302.6 

B93R16 
1903 


sthen  Burn's 
Journal 


GAMES 


"3Tfje  beautiful,  anfc  rarlg  safntrt." 

fflrs.  ft.  13.  Slotoc. 


^THIRD    EDITION) 


WOODWARD     4     LOTHROP, 

WABHINOTON.    D.    C. 

1903. 


1G2GC18 


M 

'VT^ 
tf^»  3 

^^^|^,^|^|^^|^ 

SI 

C^jfi 

aM 

<i-> 

53*1 

^s 

S£;3 

Hfltft 

1 

s 

P 

A£C 

15?* 

££ 

"x/S  it  fit  that  I  should  infuse  a  bunch  of  myrrh  into  the 

(3) 

J|     festival  goblet,  and  after  the  Egyptian  manner  serve 
up  a  dead  man's  bones  at  the  feast  ?     I  will  only  show 
!it,  and  take  it  away  again,  and  it  will  make  the  wine  bitter 

1 

If 

^> 

but  wholesome.    Those  married  pairs  that  live  as  remember- 
ing that  they  must  part  again,  shall  at  the  day  of  their  death 
be  admitted  to  glorious  es*x>us'ils  " 

5? 

KS 

^^^K 

S3^ 

JEREMY  TAYLOR. 

S3 

<io                 p$! 

l^jfc^ 

p 

k^fcj^ 

KU 

(Q)l\E  my  kindest  love  to  my  dear  wife,  and  tell  her           'XT^Tl 
\^f                                                                                                           uf^Va 
s-^t     that  the  uncommon  union,  which  has  so  long  sub-           EfiT^fc 

j%y^l 

n 

Ks 

sisted  between   us,  has  been  of  such  a  nature,  as  I           '[%r*l^| 

trust  is  spiritual,  and  therefore  will  continue  forever  :  and   I           M^Va 
I   '/  ^'^ 
hope  she  will  be  supported   under  so  great  a  trial,  and  sub-           IvfejU 

ggS 

«vU" 
<v>? 

rait  cheerfully  to  the  will  of  God."—                                                     Ij^V^^ 
PRESIDENT  EDWARDS'  LAST  MESSAGE  TO  HIS  V>'IFR.                i  *i"S£ 

|OTI 

^^ 

•55^ 

ffXJ 

^jt>^ 

"S.  ij^ 

|5f 

831 

S59 

KjOj 

y^w 

f 

<JL> 

r/»ff/»r$*ff^c|»J\J 

f    T    -T    -T  R^ 

«| 

4 


tfje  Honorable  Srrrrtaro 

Historian,  Statesman,  Qiplotnat, 
liort,  Jritnti. 


,    . ;  - ^ 


Enfcti  to  Illustrations. 


I    A  COLONIAL  TYPE 

II    THE  HUSBAND  OF  ESTHER 
BURR 

III  THE  MOTHER  OF  ESTHER 

BURR 

IV  THE  GRAND-DAUGHTER  O 

ESTHER  BURR 


PACK  2 
65 
79 
92 


nortbampton,  Tcb.  13, 1741, 


RTS  is  my  ninth  birthday,  and 
ttlrs.  Edwards,  my  mother, 
has  bad  me  stitch  these  sun= 
dry  sheets  of  paper  into  a 
book  to  make  me  a  journal, 
tttcthinks,  almost  all  this  family  keep 
journals;  though  they  seldom  show 
them.  But  mrs.  Edwards  is  to  see 
mine,  because  she  needs  to  know 
whether  1  improve  in  composing;  also, 
whether  1  am  learning  to  keep  my  heart 
with  all  diligence;  in  which  we  are  all 
constrained  to  be  engaged.  «  « 

Chere  has  been  a  great  religious 
awakening  here  among  the  children. 
One  of  my  little  mates,  Phoebe  Bartlett, 
only  a  few  years  older  than  myself, 
seems  to  be  a  wonderful  Christian,  and 
has  been  one,  ever  since  she  was  four 
years  of  age.  So  lUr.  Edwards,  my 
father,  thinks.  T  do  not  expect  to  be 


12          ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


bead  at  us  and  puts  her  finger  on  her 
lips,  but  we  are  sometimes  ready  to  burst 
out  with  miscbief:  not  because  be  pro* 
vokes  or  deserves  it,  but  because  it  is  in 
us;  as  I  venture  to  say,  it  is  in  all 
girls.  ««««««« 


m 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL      13 


nortbampton,  Jan.  9,  1742. 


RS.  Edwards  was  thirty* 
three  years  old  to-day. 
Chat  seems  very  old.  1 
wonder  if  T  shall  live  to  be 
thirty-three?  flnd  ITlr.  Ed- 
wards  is  forty— seven  years  older  than 
she.  Iflrs.  Edwards  seemed  very  seri- 
ous all  the  day  long;  as  if  she  were  in- 
wardly praying,  "Cord,  so  teach  me  to 
number  my  days,  that  T  may  apply  my 
heart  unto  wisdom."  Indeed,  this  she 
said  to  us  girls,  when  we  were  trying  to 
practice  some  birthday  trolics  upon 
her.  flnd  when  she  came  from  her  clos- 
et-devotions, her  face  actually  shone, 
as  though*  like  Ifloses,  she  had  come 
down  from  the  mount.  T  do  not  think  we 
girls  ever  will  be  so  saintly  as  our  moth- 
er is.  Jit  any  rate,  we  do  not  begin  so. 
I  do  not  know  as  T  want  to  be,  which 
is  very  wicked,  1  am  sure.  I  think,  that 
perhaps  Sarah  may;  she  is  the  flower  of 
this  family.  *  c  «  «  «  « 


14 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


!» 

H> 
«|f 


northampion,  Jan.  27, 1742. 


flaming  young  preacher, 
just  from  the  college  at  new 
Raven,  has  come  to  town. 
Re  preaches,  every  dayt  and 
twice  a  day;  our  dear  hon« 
ored  father,  who  so  much  bears  the 
burdens  of  all  the  churches,  being  ab* 
sent,  doing  the  work  of  an  evangelist, 
my  precious  mother,  though  she  would 
gladly  conceal  it,  is  not  a  little  cxcr* 
cised  to  see  the  people  flocking  after 
the  young  herald  of  the  Cross,  as 
though  they  never  heard  preaching  bc« 
fore.  Ris  name  is  Buell,  and  he  is  a 
classmate  in  college  of  Samuel  Rop- 
kins.  But,  T  can  see  this  morning  that 
she  has  wrestled  with  the  Cord,  and 
gotten  the  victory,  for  she  says  so 
sweetly  and  triumphantly:  "mould 
6od,  that  all  the  Cord's  people  were 
prophets,  and  that  Cod  would  put  his 
spirit  upon  them."  «  «  «  • 

mr.  Buell  will  stay  the  second 
week,  and  then  mr.  Ropkins  will  go 
with  him,  as  a  kind  of  armor>bearer, 
or  lieutenant,  to  Boston,  to  capture  that 
city  for  the  Cord,  many  Christians  have 
been  greatly  quickened  and  sinners 
converted*  T  am  not  certain  how  my 
honored  father  would  regard  some 
things  that  mr.  Buell  does.  But  1  am 
sure,  he  would  say,  "  Che  Cord  save 
by  whom  he  will  save."  «  «  c 


* 


I 


p 

tfVr^ 

tp 
H 


ga 


northampton,  jan.  27,  again. 


^ 


€  have  just  come  in  from 
the  three  o'clock  lecture. 
Che  place  was  too  strait 
for  us,  and  the  people 
were  deeply  moved,  many 
wept,  and  not  a  few  remained  for  a 
period  of  three  hours  for  conversation 
and  inquiry.  Itlv  honored  mother, 
whose  spirit  answers  so  quickly  to 
spiritual  things*  seemed  to  come  back 
home,  "walking  and  leaping  and 
praising  God."  Us  she  entered  the  door, 
she  had  my  hand,  and  was  singing,  not 
loudly,  but  as  if  it  were  in  an  inward 
ecstasy, 

"fiosanna  to  King  David's  son, 
Ulho  reigns  on  a  superior  throne!" 
Jill  the  evening  there  was  something 
seraphic  in  her  expression,  and  when 
she  kissed  me  for  the  night,  methought 
T  looked  on  the  face  of  an  angel,  my 
honored  father  and  dear  mother  seem  to 
me  different  from  other  people  in  this, 
that  their  whole  nature  is  attuned  to 
God's  service  and  praise.  Chey  utter 
themselves  at  once,  as  though  they  felt, 
if  they  held  their  peace,  the  very  stones 
would  cry  out.  Ulho  knows  but  they 
would?  the  northampton  stones  are 
wont  to  hear  such  preaching.  «  « 


16  ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


northampton,  Teb.  13,  1742* 

have  just  come  tripping  up 
stairs  from  morning  worship, 
and  the  song  of  the  service 
still  follows  me*  T  have  been 
thinking  what  a  singing  f  am= 
ily  the  Edwards  family  is*  mother's 
voice  we  have  heard  in  psalms  and 
hymns  and  spiritual  songs,  ever  since 
our  early  babyhood*  She  sang  us  on 
our  pilgrim  way,  when  we  were  in  our 
cradles*  Jlnd  to  all  the  house,  her  voice 
is  always  uplifting  like  the  lark's,  as 
though  her  soul  were  mounting  up  to 
heaven's  shining  gate  on  wings  of  song* 
If  father  ever  gets  low>spirited  from 
his  *'  humors,"  as  he  calls  them,  her 
voice  is  to  him  like  medicine,  as  David's 
harp  was  to  King  Saul*  Jlnd  when  she 
once  begins,  there  is  Sarah  and  jcrusha 
and  myself,  like  the  ascending  pipes  of 
an  organ,  ready  to  unite  in  making  a  joy= 
ful  noise  to  the  Cord,  all  over  the  house 
so  that  our  home  is  more  like  an  aviary 
than  the  dwelling  of  a  Colonial  parson* 
mother  has  been  correcting  the  few 
pages  of  my  journal  and  father  has 
given  me  to  transcribe  into  it,  a  descrip- 
tion which  he  wrote  of  a  certain  lady, 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL      17 


when  she  was  but  thirteen  years  old. 
Chis  is  only  three  years  older  than  T  am 
now.  Here  is  the  extract:— 

"  Chcv  say  there  is  a  young  lady  in 
new  Haven  who  has  a  strange  sweet* 
ness  in  her  mind,  and  a  singular  purity 
in  her  affections;  is  most  just  and  com 
scientious  in  all  conduct,  and  you  could 
not  persuade  her  to  do  anything  wrong 
or  sinful,  if  you  should  give  her  all  the 
world.  She  is  of  a  wonderful  sweetness 
and  calmness,  and  universal  benevo- 
lence of  mind;  especially,  after  the  great 
God  has  manifested  himself  to  her  mind. 
She  will  sometimes  go  about  from  place 
to  place  singing  sweetly,  and  seeming 
to  be  always  full  of  ioy  and  pleasure, 
and  no  one  knows  for  what.  She  loves 
to  be  alone,  and  walking  in  the  fields  and 
groves,  and  seems  to  have  some  One  in- 
visible conversing  with  her." 

Chis  was  Sarah  Pierrepoint,  my 
precious  mother.  Itlr.  Edwards  wants 
me  to  be  like  her.  Ulhat  do  they  say 
of  a  young  lady,  also  a  minister's 
daughter,  who  lives  in  this  town  of 
northampton?  my  mother  says,  Itly 
journal  thus  far  is  rather  stilted  and 
mature  for  me;  though  everything  in 
the  family  is  mature.  1  have  a  letter  of 
my  father's  written  when  he  was 
younger  than  T  am,  which  T  shall  trans= 


18 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


cribc,   just   to  show  where  the  present 
writer  gets  her  stilts  and  maturity  : 
Co  miss  Itlary  Edwards  at  fiadley. 

Olindsort  may  10,  1716. 
Dear  Sister:— 

Cbrougb  tbe  wonderful  good> 
ness  and  mercy  of  Cod,  there  has  been 
in  this  place  a  remarkable  outpouring 
of  tbe  Spirit  of  Bod.  Tt  still  continues, 
but  T  think  T  bave  reason  to  think  it  is  in 
some  measure  diminished;  yet,  T  hope 
not  much.  Chree  bave  joined  tbe 
church,  since  you  last  heard,  five  now 
stand  propounded  for  admission;  and  T 
think  about  tbirty  persons  come  com= 
monly  on  mondays  to  converse  with 
f  atber  about  tbe  condition  of  tbcir  souls* 
Tt  is  a  time  of  general  health  here. 
Hbigail,  fiannah  and  Cucy  bave  bad  tbe 
cbicfcen>pox  and  bave  recovered.  3e> 
rusba  is  almost  well.  Except  her,  tbe 
wbole  family  is  well. 

Sister,  T  am  glad  1  bear  of  your 
welfare  as  often  as  T  do*  T  sbould  be 
glad  to  bear  from  you  by  letter,  and 
therein,  how  is  it  with  you,  as  to  your 
crookedness* 

Vour  loving  brotber, 

Jonathan  6. 


* 
<* 

& 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL        19 


nortbampton,  march  6, 1742. 


HUt  just  been  caring  for  my 
mocking*bird*  who  is  now 
rewarding  me  with  a  sonn. 
Che  cat  was  lurking  in  the 
ball*  and  T  have  fust  driven 
ber  away  with  the  broom*  witb  which  1 
have  been  sweeping  tbe  living>room. 
Chough  down  by  tbe  fireside*  attwi* 
ligbt*  she  is  my  favorite*  too*  or  ratber* 
jcrusba's,  who  is  very  tender  of  pets* 
Hnd  even  father,  sometimes*  while  witb 
us  after  supper*  seems  to  enjoy  ber  pur> 
ring*  as  be  strokes  ber  in  bis  lap. 
Cbougb  I  doubt  if  she  has  much  divinity 
about  ber;  unless  it  is  in  ber  sparks  of 
electricity*  wben  she  is  rubbed  tbe 
wrong  way.  «  «  «  «  «  « 


20 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


Northampton,  may  1,  1742* 

have  just  come  back  from  a 
most  wonderful  ride  with  my 
honored  father,  mr.  Edwards, 
through  the  spring  woods*  lie 
usually  rides  alone.  But,  to- 
day, he  said  he  had  something  he  want- 
ed to  show  me.  Che  forests  between 
our  house  and  the  full-banked  river 
were  very  beautiful.  Che  wild  cherry 
and  the  dogwood  were  in  full  bloom. 
Che  squirrels  were  leaping  from  tree  to 
tree,  and  the  birds  were  making  a  vari= 
ous  melody.  Chough  father  is  usually 
taciturn  or  preoccupied,— my  mother 
will  call  these  large  words,— even  when 
he  takes  one  of  us  children  with  him,  to* 
day,  he  discoursed  to  me  of  the  awful 
sweetness  of  walking  with  God  in  Ha« 
ture.  Be  seems  to  feel  God  in  the 
woods,  the  sky,  the  clouds  and  the 
grand  sweep  of  the  river,  which  winds 
so  majestically  through  the  woody  si* 
lences  here.  Be  quoted,  to-day,  from 
the  Canticles,  "T  am  the  Rose  of  Sharon 
and  the  Cily  of  the  valleys,"  applying 
the  words  to  the  Saviour,  as  though  the 
beauty  and  loveliness  of  the  Saviour 
were  recalled  in  the  works  of  creation; 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     21 


and  then,  from  the  Gospel  of  3ohn : 
"Jill  things  were  made  by  him,  and 
without  him  was  not  anything  made, 
that  was  made."  Cbis  was,  as  T  sat  be* 
hind  on  the  pillion,  which  we  so  much 
use  as  a  seat  for  another  in  horseback 
riding.  ««««««« 

When  we  reached  "Che  Indian's 
Well,"  T  slid  off  and  brought  a  birch- 
bark  cup  of  crystal  water  for  father  to 
drink.  But,  not  before  T  had  given  my* 
self  a  great  surprise.  For,  having  put 
on  m  v  mother's  hat  in  sport,  the  first  re* 
flection  in  the  dark  water  seemed  to  be 
the  face  of  my  mother  instead  of  my 
own.  Hnd  when  T  told  my  father,  he 
said:  "Us  face  answereth  to  face  in 
water,  so  the  heart  of  man  to  man.'' 
Hnd  then  he  told  me,  that  he  had  given 
me  that  extract  about  Sarah  Pierre- 
point,  that  I  might  think  of  what  my 
mother  was  already,  when  she  was  still 
a  young  maiden.  «  «  «  « 

Going  home,  my  father  pointed  out 
to  me  the  habits  of  a  flying  spider,  that 
sallies  forth  on  his  thread  as  upon 
wings,  and  is  borne  by  the  wind  from 
tree  to  tree,  so  that  he  really  is  a  great 
traveler:  how  he  raises  himself  on  tip* 
toe,  turning  up  his  body,  how  the  silk 


22 


ESTHER   BURR'S   JOURNAL 


fluid  in  bis  body  becomes  hardened  on 
exposure  to  tbe  air,  bow  it  is  drawn  out 
by  tbe  current  of  tbe  air.  Indeed,  I 
came  borne  thinking  a  great  many  new 
thoughts,  which  my  excursion  bad 
awakened  ;  as  I  think  my  father  intend 
ed.  Jlnd  tbe  verse  came  into  my  mind: 
"Jill  tby  works  praise  tbee!"  «  « 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL       23 


northampton,  June,  1743. 


V  mother  has  just  come  into 
the  house,  with  a  bunch  of 
sweet  peas,  and  put  them  on 
the  stand  where  my  honored 
father  is  shaving,  though 
his  beard  is  very  slight,  me  have 
abundance  of  flowers,  and  a  vegetable 
garden,  which  is  early  and  thrifty.  Our 
sweet  corn  is  the  first  in  the  town,  and 
so  are  our  green  peas,  my  honored  fa« 
ther  of  course  has  not  time  to  give  at- 
tention to  the  garden,  and  so  ttirs.  Ed- 
wards looks  after  everything  there.  Al- 
most before  the  snow  has  left  the  hills, 
she  has  it  ploughed  and  spaded  by 
Hose's  husband,  who  does  all  the  hard 
work  there.  She  is  our  colored  cook. 
Ule  hire  her  services  from  one  of  the 
prominent  people  in  father's  parish* 
who  owns  both  her  and  her  husband. 
Chat  word  "owns"  sounds  strangely 
about  people.  «  «  «  «  « 

Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins,  my  father's 
student  in  theology,  has  some  very 
strong  opinions  against  slavery,  fie 
once  said  to  my  father,  that  he  believed 


24         ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


God  would  yet  overrule  for  bis  glory, 
the  coming  of  the  blacks  to  tbis  country; 
quoting  what  Joseph  said,  " Vc  meant 
it  for  evil,  but  Cod  meant  it  for  good." 
fie  has  already  working  in  bis  great 
mind,  tbe  beginning  of  an  effort  to  send 
Christianized  negroes  back  to  Jlfrica. 
Ule  girls  have  cbanged  bis  nickname  to 
"Old  Benevolence;"  tbougb  we  all  bave 
for  him  tbe  greatest  respect.  But,  we 
must  bave  something  to  make  sport 
about  among  ourselves.  «  «  c 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL    25 


tlortbampton,  juiv  23, 1743. 


fit;  Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins  has 
just  paid  us  a  short  visit.  fl 
very  strong  attachment  has 
sprung  up  between  this  young 
preacher  and  my  honored  fa= 
ther.  indeed,  T  believe,  he  has  made  my 
father  and  mother  his  confidants  in  a 
certain  affair  of  the  heart,  which  relates 
to  himself.  JI  certain  young  lady  in 
Horthampton— none  of  the  Edwards 
girls— is  the  object  of  this  attachment* 
and  alas,  it  is  not  successful.  It  gives 
us  girls  a  great  theme.  «  «  « 

mr.  Hopkins  was  to  spend  the 
Cord's  Day  with  us,  and  to  preach  in 
my  father's  stead;  though  T  really  be* 
lieve  he  would  much  prefer  to  listen  to 
my  father.  fls  it  turned  out,  they  both 
preached,  and  mr.  Hopkins  said  the 
comparison  made  bim  ashamed. 


26 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


ncrthampton,  Sept*  14,  1743. 


R.  David   Brainerd    should 
have    graduated    at    new 
Raven    College    this     day. 
mr.  Edwards,  my   father, 
is  feeling    much   hurt   be* 
President  CHap  and  the  trustees 
mr.  Brainerd  so  shabbily 


cause 

have  treated 
and  cruelly,  my  father  says,  as  T  think, 
new  Raven  College  has  lost  the  bright- 
est jewel  she  will  ever  wear  in  her  crown, 
mr.  Brainerd  was  expelled  from  the 
College,  for  saying  of  one  of  the  tutors 
who  seemed  indifferent  to  religious 
activity,— when  mr.  Olhitefield  was 
preaching  in  new  Raven,  and  the  stu-- 
dents  were  generally  giving  much  at- 
tention to  his  word,— that  he  had  no 
more  religion  than  a  chair.  T  can  see 
that  my  father  thinks  that  he  spake  un> 
advisedly,  and  should  make  amends  for 
it,— as  he  was  willing  most  humbly  to 
do,— but,  that  he  very  likely  spoke  the 
truth.  Being  a  graduate  of  that  Col- 
lege, my  father  has  been  greatly  bur= 
dened  at  the  irreligion  and  wickedness 
prevailing  there;  and  he  is  already  in 
conference  with  Rev.  Burr  of  new* 
ark  as  to  founding  a  college,  perhaps, 
in  the  jerseys,  where  young  men  can 
be  safe  from  such  influences.  «  « 


t 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL       27 


It  seems  that  mr .  Brainerd  was  so 
concerned  for  the  students,  that  be  went 
from  room  to  room  talking  and  praping 
with  them  all,  whether  they  bad  made  a 
profession  of  faitb  or  not*  Indeed,  tflr* 
Samuel  Hopkins  told  my  father  that  it 
was  David  Brainerd's  visit  to  bis  room 
that  convinced  him  tbat  be  himself  was 
not  a  Christian,  tbongb  be  was  even 
tben  intending  to  study  for  the  ministry. 


28 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


Northampton,  Sept*  14, 1743, 

$  T  said,  to  return  to  the  top* 
ic  above:  this  day  David 
Brainerd  would  have  grad- 
uated at  new  Raven  College* 
But,  the  faculty  were  unre- 
lenting, notwithstanding  his  bumiliat* 
ing  confession*  Re  is  likely  to  become 
a  member  of  this  family,  it  seems*  Soon 
after  coming  to  northampton  he  display* 
ed  strong  affinity  for  3erusha,  our  sis. 
ter  of  seventeen,  who  was  soon  i tiocu, 
lated  with  his  high  spiritual  views,  and 
deeply  interested  in  his  Indian  work* 

my  honored  father  Itlr.  Edwards 
regards  him  a  young  man  of  uncommon 
abilities  and  gifts  of  nature,  a  close 
student,  with  extraordinary  power 
in  the  pulpit*  Tn  private  convcrsa* 
tion,  he  is  entertaining  and  profitable, 
and  very  instructive  on  personal  and  ex- 
perimental religion*  Chus  far,  his  Tn* 
dian  missionary  labors  have  been  soli' 
tary.  Ee  thinks  this  a  mistake*  he  has 
had  no  domestic  attention,  no  home 
care,  no  one  to  hold  him  back  from  over 
exertion*  Jlnd  he  means  now,  should 
he  ever  recover,  which  T  very  much  mis* 
doubt;  to  take  a  female  helpmate  back 
with  him*  T  am  pretty  sure  this  kind  of 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL    29 


love  never  would  satisfy  me.  1  believe 
be  loves  her,  more  because  she  will 
make  a  good  missionary,  than  for  any 
other  reason.  But,  little  does  the  dear 
airl  care.  She  has  laid  herself  upon  the 
altar,  and  is  more  than  willing  to  be  an 
offering  for  a  sweet  smelling  savour  to 
him,  as  well  as  to  her  divine  saviour 
and  Cord.  «««««« 


3O         ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


Hortbampton,  may  14,  1744. 


RS.  Edwards,  my  moii.tr, 
and  my  sister  Sarah  have 
just  set  out  with  mr.  fiop» 
kins  on  horseback  for  Bos- 
ton* my  sister  rides  behind 
mr.  ftopkins,  and  they  are  to  lodge  the 
first  night  at  Colonel  Dwigbt's  in  Brook* 
field.  Cbis  leaves  a  great  vacancy  in 
our  busy  home:  and  intent  on  his  studies 
as  my  honored  father  mr.  Edwards  is. 
I  really  believe  he  feels  it  the  most.  Cbis 
visit  to  Boston  has  been  a  long  time 
planned,  to  execute  sundry  purchases 
needful  for  the  members  of  the  house= 
hold.  Ulbile  in  Boston,  mother  and  Sa« 
rah  are  to  be  entertained  at  the  house  of 
Rev.  mr.  Prince,  mr.  Prince  has  a 
daughter  Sally,  younger  than  our  Sa  = 
rah— father  does  not  like  to  hear  her 
nick*named-witb  whom,  T  sometimes 
exchange  letters.  1  hope  hereafter  to 
visit  Boston,  myself;  though  T  believe. 
T  would  rather  reside  in  nortbampton. 


4* 

4j 
4* 

4* 
^^J 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL       31 


north  amp  ton,  Feb.  14t  1747* 

think  T  never  knew  so  hapvv  a 
day.  Chcrc  has  been  a  thaw, 
the  January  thaw,  later  than 
usual ,  and  the  rain  bad  frozen 
on  every  tree  and  twig,  and 
when  tbe  sun  a  rose ,  it  was  just  as  though 
tbey  were  all  encased  in  silver.  Hnd 
everywhere  tbe  broken  pieces  off  ice 
were  crackling  down  from  tbe  elms  and 
maples,  all  tbe  way  as  we  went  to  tbe 
bouse  of  God.  Che  air  was  full  of  music 
of  tbe  sleifib-bells  of  tbe  cburcb-floers, 
as  tbey  drove  past.  Jlnd  1  thought  of 
wbat  is  said  in  tbe  Scriptures,  of  tbe 
bells  on  tbe  hiah  priest's  garments,  and 
bow  bis  sound  was  beard  as  be  went 
into  tbe  boly  place;  and  so  tbe  greater 
music  of  tbe  cburcb-bells  seemed  to  say 
to  my  soul,  holiness  to  tbe  Cord ! 

But  T  must  begin  to  speak  of  earlier 
in  the  day.  T  was  awkened  in  the 
morning  by  someone's  kissing  me  on 
my  eyes  and  my  mouth  and  my  ears. 
In  the  haze  of  my  morning  dreams  T 
thought  it  might  be  tbe  angels.  But,  no, 
T  soon  saw  that  it  was  my  angebmotber, 


32         ESTHER   BURR'S  JOURNAL 


and  she  was  half  saying  and  half  sing* 
ing:  "Jlwake,  my  Esther,  my  queen. 
Chis  is  the  day  of  thine  espousals*  Tor 
the  King  deligbtetb  in  thee  and  calleth 
ihce  by  name*  Re  brings  thce  to  Ris 
banqueting*bouse  and  Eis  banner  over 
thcc  is  love/'  Chen,  1  remembered  it 
was  my  fifteenth  birthday,  and  also, 
that  1  was  that  day,  to  take  upon  me  the 
vows  of  God.  Jlnd  1  answered  mother, 
as  by  a  kind  of  inspiration:  "T  was 
asleep,  but  my  heart  waketh*  Tt  is  the 
voice  of  my  beloved  that  knocketb.  Eis 
head  is  filled  with  dew,  His  locks  with 
the  drops  of  the  night.' '  Jlnd  T  quickly 
arose,  for  T  saw  the  house  was  already 
astir.  ««««««« 

my  honored  father  preached  on 
Ruth's  Resolution  as  though  to  me, 
from  the  words,  "Entreat  me  not  to 
leave  thee,  nor  to  turn  from  following 
tbee."  (Ruth  it  lv«)  T  shall  never  forget 
his  words  about  the  people  of  6od.  Re 
said,  "Cbey  are  the  most  excellent  and 
happy  society  in  the  world*  God  whom 
they  have  chosen  as  their  Bod,  is  their 
father.  Re  has  pardoned  all  their  sins, 
and  they  are  at  peace  with  Rim.  Jlnd 
Re  has  admitted  them  to  all  the  privil* 
eges  of  children.  Jls  they  have  devoted 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     33 


themselves  to  God,  so  God  has  given 
himself  to  them,  lye  carries  them  on 
eagle's  wings  far  above  Satan's  reach, 
and  above  the  reach  off  all  their  enemies 
in  this  world."  Chis  he  afterwards  let 
me  copy  from  his  sermon.  Und  T  said 
in  my  heart:  "€hy  people  shall  be  my 
people,  and  thy  God  my  God."  «  « 


34 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


' 


nortbampton,  1747* 


has  fust  returned 
from  her  sojourn  in  Boston, 
with  her  sick  charge,  David 
Brainerd,  the  Indian  mis* 
sionary.  Che v  came  by  easy 
stages,  but  be  is  much  exhausted,  and  1 
believe,  is  not  long  for  this  world,  nev- 
er was  there  such  devotion,  shall  T  say 
idolatry?  bestowed  upon  mortal  man. 
never  was  there  so  humble  a  handmaid 
of  the  Cord  as  Serusba.  She  reminds 
me  of  what  is  said  of  Ruth  and  Boaz: 
"Hi  hen  she  fell  upon  her  face  and  bowed 
herself  to  the  ground,  and  said  unto 
him,  Why  have  T  found  grace  in  thy 
sight,  that  thou  shouldst  take  knowl* 
edge  of  me  ?"  Her  whole  nature  goes 
out  after  spiritual  things,  and  this  man 
is  her  ideal*  She  actually  almost  wor> 
ships  the  ground  he  treads  upon.  She 
feels  that  she  is  unworthy  to  perform 
the  most  menial  offices  for  him.  She 
is  iust  sure  to  wear  herself  out  in  her 
constant  ministrations,  which  are  day 
and  night,  unremitting  and  unceasing. 
If  he  should  die  soon,  and  1  believe  he 
will,  T  am  sure  she  would  prefer  to  die 
with  him,  as  Chomas  said  to  the  Cord 
about  Cazarus,  "Cct  us  go  that  we  may 


t 


* 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL        35 


die  with  him!"  Indeed,  we  all  feart 
that  with  the  close  off  bis  life,  she  will 
feel  that  her  work  is  ended,  like  Simeon 
saying,  "now  lettest  tby  servant  depart 
in  peace." 


%£ 


36 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


nortbamton,  Oct.  9,  1747* 


fi€  sainted  sufferer  of  the 
bouse,  our  temporary  guest, 
our  brother  in  the  Cord*  has 
at  length,  breathed  bis  last* 
fie  called  us  all  to  bis  bed* 
side,  and  tenderly  talked  of  bis  going, 
and  bade  us,  when  we  stand  by  bis 
grave,  to  remember  bis  words,  fie  ex* 
pressed  himself  ready  to  part  with  us 
all. 
was 


"For  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ 
far  better/'    Co  our  jcrusba,  his 


longtime  nurse,  who  has  watched  and 
almost  felt  every  pang  of  bis  poor  rack* 
ed  body,  for  many  months,  be  said: 
"Dear  Serusba,  are  you  willing  to  part 
with  me?  T  am  quite  willing  to  part 
wf  tb  you*  Chough  if  I  thought  T  should 
not  see  you  and  be  happy  with  you  in 
another  world,  T  could  not  bear  to  part 
with  you*  But,  we  will  spend  a  happy 
eternity  together."  flnd  so  he  had  bis 
message  for  each  one  of  us  all,  and 
then  fell  asleep* 


m 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL     37 


nortbamton,  Oct.  12,  1747. 


>€  bave  fust  come  borne 
from  the  public  improve* 
ment  of  David  Brainerd's 
decease.  Of  course*  my 
honored  father  preached 
the  discourse.  fiis  text  was  from  2  Cor. 
v.  8  t  "Absent  from  the  body  but  pres« 
ent  with  tbe  Cord." 

he  was  unusually  exalted,    even 
for  him.    Che  closing  bymn  was 
"Ulbv  do  we  mourn  departed  friends  ? 

"Or  shrink  at  death' s  alarms  ?" 
It  was  sung  grandly  and  triumphantly 
by  our  great  choir  of  voices.  Dear  3e» 
rusba's  illuminated  face  was  a  study. 
She  was  rapt  up  no  more  in  tbe  living. 
It  seemed  as  tbougb  ber  soul,  liberated 
from  eartbt  was  already  mounting  up  to 
boly  communion  with  tbe  spirits  of  tbe 
iust  made  perfect,  of  wbom  not  one  of 
tbe  great  congregation  could  doubt, 
Ittr.  Branerd  was  now  one.  JInd  wben 
came  tbe  words 

"Jlre  we  not  tending  upward  too, 

Jls  fast  as  time  can  move  ? 
nor  would  we  wisb  tbe  hours  more 
slow 

Co  keep  us  from  our  love !" 


Mr*1 


38 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


4> 


it  seemed  to  me  as  though  she  saw 
heaven  open,  the  golden  gates  lifted 
up  and  was  only  waiting  for  angel- 
wings  to  mount  there.  She  is  not  long 
for  this  world.  Tor  exactly  nineteen 
weeks,  day  and  night,  she  has  cared 
for  this  sick  man  ;  and  she  only  eight* 
een.  ««««««« 


«|M|* 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL        39 


- 

* 


^ 


ES 


KS 


nortbamptotit  Oct.  12,  1747* 


respect  was  shown  mr . 
Hraincrd's  memory  at  the 
funeral,  which  occurred  to* 
day:  eight  of  the  neighbor* 
ing  ministers  being  present, 
seventeen  gentlemen  of  liberal  educa* 
tion  and  a  great  concourse  of  people. 
Che  October  foliage,  full  of  glory,  seem* 
ed  nature's  expression  of  the  triumphal 
conclusion  of  his  life's  years;  and  when 
we  all  stood  at  the  open  grave,  and  his 
precious  dust  was  committed  to  the 
dust,  my  father  pronouncing  the  words: 
"Jlnd  T  heard  a  voiee  from  heaven  say* 
ing,  'Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in 
the  Cord;'  yea,  saith  with  the  Spirit  that 
they  may  rest  from  their  labors,  and 
their  works  do  follow  them,"  it  was  a 
solemnity  not  soon  to  be  forgotten.  Jlnd 
when  we  returned  home  to  the  dwelling 
where  he  had  suffered  so  long,  it  was 
like  coming  back  to  earth  from  the  gate* 
way  of  Heaven.  How  strangely  earth 
and  Heaven  are  brought  together  in  this 
family!  ««««««« 


a§j 

40         ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


nortbampton,  1747* 


V  honored  father  has  not  on 

' v  *hci-flh  *  '*  a  $acred  duty 
to  care  for  nir.  Brainerd  in 
his  own  house,  as  a  friend 
atu|  due st,  rememberfna  the 
words,  "He  not  forgetful  to  enter- 
tain strangers;  for  by  so  doing,  many 
have  entertained  angels  unawares:" 
but  he  has  felt  that  a  record  of  his 
saintly  exercises  and  experiences 
should  be  made  for  others*  Re  firmly 
believes  that  the  journal  he  has  kept,  is 
to  be  largely  blessed  in  making  minis- 
ters and  missionaries,  till  the  end  of 
time*  •  «  «  «  c  «  « 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL    41 


Ilortbampton,  Feb.  14,  174$. 

f)TS  day  our  dear  Serusba 
died  at  eigbteen.  If  as  she 
and  ber  sainted  David,  and 
we  all  believe,  sbe  be  gone  to 
ber  father's  Rouse,  sbe  bas 
already  joined  the  boly  company,  of 
which  be  since  last  October  bas  been 
one.  Cbey  have  been  separated  only 
five  months.  Chough  T  doubt,  whether 
be  bas  ever  been  absent  from  ber 
thought  and  longing  love.  Chis  is  what 
tbe  world  calls  St.  Ualentine's  day, 
though  I  have  been  taught  to  think  that 
all  folly.  Being  a  girl,  T  suppose,  1 
could  not  belp  remarking  tbe  coinci> 
dence.  Jlnd  1  recalled  from  tbe  Psalms 
as  it  was  my  day's  reading :  "Sbe  sball 
be  brought  unto  tbe  King,  in  raiment  of 
needle*work  ;  tbe  virgins,  ber  compan* 
ions,  that  follow  ber  sball  be  brought 
unto  thce;  tbey  sball  enter  into  tbe 
King's  palace."  Jlnd  so  we  sball  lay 
tbe  frame  of  this  ministering  angel  side 
by  side  witb  tbat  of  tbe  man,  wbo 
breathed  out  bis  life  almost  in  ber  arms. 
Tt  is  fust  five  montbs  and  two  days 
since  bis  burial,  now  tbey  can  say  in 
concert,  "my  beloved  is  mine,  and  T  am 
fiis!"  ««««««« 


42 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


II 

nortbampton,  January* 

JR6J1C  excitement  has  been 
occasioned  by  a  new  year's 
sleigb*ride  and  ball  for  danc= 
ing,  that  has  just  occurred 
here.  It  was  a  gay  party  of 
young  people,  some  of  my  more  intimate 
friends  among  them,  who  drove  to  a  bo* 
tel  in  fiadley,  and  spent  the  hours  till 
midnight  in  dancing  the  Old  Year  out 
and  the  new  Year  in.  Ulben  it  was 
known  such  a  party  was  in  contempla* 
tion,  the  mothers  of  the  young  people 
had  a  prayer-meeting  to  pray  that  no 
harm  might  come  to  them  ;  indeed,  that 
they  might  be  converted  to  a  better  style 
of  piety,  than  they  then  had;  for  many  of 
them  were  already  church-members. 
Co  my  honored  father  and  mother,  it 
has  been  a  time  of  great  grief*  Hnd 
when  with  morning  light,  the  great  slcd= 
loads  drove  up  through  the  streets,  with 
their  laughing,  giddy  freight,  1  saw  the 
tears  in  the  eyes  of  them  both.  1  am 
only  too  glad,  that  none  of  the  children 
of  this  family  were  invited  to  go:  or  had 
they  been,  would  have  so  far  departed 
from  the  wishes  of  their  parents,  as  to 


5LWIifW%£'5^ 

ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL       43 


care  to  do  so*  Cbis  household,  even 
when  tbere  are  visiting  young  people  as 
quests ,  is  so  well  regulated,  that  with 
nine  o'clock  conies  the  hour  for  family 
worship  when  the  different  members  re* 
tire;  while  our  morning  worship  is  usu» 
ally  by  candlelight.  «  «  «  « 


•^i^ 

1 


44 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


t 


norJhampton. 

€  have  just  been  permitted 
to  read  Richardson's  nov- 
el: "Sir  Charles  6randi= 
son."  Our  father  and  moth8 
er  have  first  read  it,  and 
regard  it  a  wholly  suitahle  book  as  to 
morals  and  character*  Our  honored  f  a- 
ther  has  gone  so  far  as  to  express  ad- 
miration for  its  literary  style,  and  also 
to  speak  his  regret  that  he  had  not  ear= 
lier  given  more  attention  to  such  mat* 
ters;  he  being  so  intent  upon  the 
thougt,  as  to  have  no  time  to  clothe  it 
in  elegant  language*  this  novel  was 
sent  to  us  from  Scotland,  where  it  had 
made  a  great  stir*  Of  course,  to  read 
such  a  book,  is  an  unusual  event  in  such 
a  family  as  ours*  Jlnd  we  have  had  a 
great  time  taking  it  in  turn,  and  discus* 
sing  its  characters.  «t  «  c  « 


4* 


-------"---"-- 

«,^ 


V4Vh-/ 

m 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     45 


Northampton. 


RTS  day,  we  leave  dear, 
sweet  Rortbampton,  where 
all  of  us  have  been  born,  and 
wbere  we  have  so  many  ties 
of  childhood  and  youth. 
Even  the  very  trees  around  our  home, 
seem  a  part  of  us.  there  is  one  e!m, 
tbat  is  called  my  father's,  be  has  so 
long  studied  beneatb  it.  Chough  these 
places  will  know  us  no  more  forever, 
though  much  bitterness  and  persecution 
have  marked  tbe  men  who  have  com* 
passed  our  departure,  as  my  honored 
lather  says,  we  do  not  go  as  David  left 
Jerusalem  driven  out  by  tbe  rebellion  of 
bis  son  Hbsalom,  though  it  seems  so 
to  me  at  least,— but  believing  in  tbe 
words  of  tbe  sacred  writ :  "Behold,  T 
send  an  angel  before  tbee,  to  bring  tbee 
into  tbe  place  which  I  bave  prepared. 
Lead  me  in  tby  righteousness  because 
of  mine  enemies ;  make  tby  way  straight 
before  my  face."  «  «  «  «  « 
One  of  the  bitterest  experiences 
connected  with  this  removal  is  the  fact 
that  some  of  the  active  instigators  of  it 
are  actually  flesh  of  our  flesh,  and 
blood  of  our  blood.  Chis  is  more 
than  the  Psalmist's  complaint  of  tbe 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


one  who  "lifted  up  the  heel  against 
him  :"  "We  took  sweet  counsel  togeth- 
er, and  walked  to  the  bouse  of  God  in 
company,"  though  this  also  was  true. 
flnd  doubtless,  the  Cord's  servants 
have  to  take  the  baptism  of  their  mas* 
ter,  who  quotes  this  passage  with  refer* 
ence  to  the  defection  of  5udas.  « 


ur* 

4i» 


t 

•*• 


I 


f*>^H^"  *  ^^li^"  *  *~ 


—     ^  *-^lt^  *'^M^"  *  -~ 


JL  T* ' 

S3 


B3i 

«jp 

KS 


^ 


5i 

L.*Lr£ 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL        47 


tlortbampton. 


could  be  more  beau 
tiful  than  tbe  manner,  in 
which  Tflr.  and  mrs.  €d* 
wards  bave  submitted  to  tbe 
decision  of  tbe  Council  witb 
its  majority  of  only  one,  recommending 
our  removal  from  this  place.  We  cbil* 
dren  bave  been  indignant  beyond  ex- 
pression. It  bas  not  always  been  pos- 
sible for  us  to  please  our  parents  by 
sbowing  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit.  Jlnd 
seeing  them  take  everything  so  patient^ 
ly,  we  bave  sometimes  seemed  to  feel 
tbe  more  satisfaction  in  sbowing  our  re- 
sentment, may  6od  forgive  us,  if  we 
are  wrong.  But  we  feel  like  shaking 
tbe  dust  off  of  our  very  feet,  as  a  testi* 
mony  against  a  people,  to  whom  our  fa- 
ther bas  ministered  in  boly  tbings  for  so 
many  years,  and  wbo  bave  been  born  of 
bis  ministration  of  tbe  truth  into  tbe 
Kingdom  of  God.  «  «  «  c 


48 


ESTHER   BURR'S   JOURNAL 


Stockbridge,  mass.,  Dec.  22,  174$. 


letter  to  Ittr.  Edwards,  my 
honored  father,  from  Itlr. 
Burr,  states  that  the  Hew 
Jersey  College  was  organ* 
ized  under  an  enlarged 
charter,  nov.  9,  and  that  he  has  been 
chosen  President  to  succeed  ttlr.  Dick* 
enson,  who  has  lately  died.  Tor  the 
present,  he  will  serve  without  salary* 
Chere  is  a  graduating  class  of  eight,  of 
whom  seven  expect  to  be  ministers  of 
the  Gospel*  Ittr.  Burr  has  two  tutors  to 
assist  him.  lie  himself  teaches  the  an- 
cient languages  and  mathematics,  cal- 
culates eclipses  and  practices  survcy= 
ing,  besides  being  the  pastor  of  the 
church  there*  But  of  work,  my  honored 
father  says,  tllr*  Burr  never  tires,  and 
he  passes  from  one  thing  to  another, 
with  the  greatest  facility  and  grace* 
€hi$  whole  arrangement,  which  has 
been  discussed  in  a  correspondence  be 
tween  my  father  and  Governor  Belcher 
is  very  satisfactory*  Tt  is  not  Antici- 
pated that  mr*  Burr  will  resign  his  pas= 
torate,  at  least,  at  present;  though  how 
he  finds  time  to  do  so  much  none  of  us 
can  guess*  «««««« 


•fc® 
i$ 


*> 

m 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL    49 


Stockbridge,  may  26, 1749* 

X  is  the  practice  off  mr.  €d« 
wards  to  finish  bis  own  meal, 
which  is  always  very  simple, 
and  then  return  to  the  table  to 
say  grace,  at  the  close,  when 
we  are  all  done,  for  we  begin  and  end 
our  meals  in  God*  Cbis  morning  as  be 
did  not  come  at  once,  my  dear  motber 
wbo  always  berself  says  grace,  when 
fatber  is  absent  from  borne,  said  that 
Jonathan  Edwards,  Jr.,  wbo  is  Just 
past  eight  years  old,  might  officiate. 
Cbis  pleased  us  all.  Tor  be  fell  into  ffa« 
tber's  exact  words  and  intonations,  as 
a  child  would  do,  without  seeming  to 
intend  it.  me  all  maintained  the  great- 
est decorum,  as  was  befitting,  for  we 
know  that  "out  of  the  mouth  off  babes 
and  sucklings  God  has  ordained 
praise* '-a  favorite  verse  off  father's, 
wbo  believes  in  the  early  conversion  off 
children.  Cbis  evening,  too,  we  chil- 
dren are  to  have  a  birthday  festival  in 
Jonathan's  honor,  though  this  we  keep 
a  profound  secret.  Jls  to  Jonathan,  Jr., 
we  all  expect  be  will  some  day  make  a 
great  divine ;  though  outwardly  he  does 
not  resemble  our  fatber;  being  dark, 
and  plain,  and  very  small.  «  « 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


Stockbridflc,  3an.  21,  1752. 


town  is  delightfully  lo- 
cated for  winter  sports.  Che 
river  has  a  very  quiet  flow, 
so  that  we  have  skating 
parties,  and  the  bills  all 
around  furnish  suitable  declivities  for 
coasting.  1  have  just  come  in  from 
ttlest  stockbridflc  road,  with  my  cheeks 
all  aalow  and  pulse  beating  wildly.  Illy 
sister  and  1  had  two  Tndian  boys  to  pull 
our  sleds  for  us,  and  to  guide  them  over 
the  crust,  which  flashes  like  a  mirror, 
as  with  lightning  rapidity  we  speed 
from  one  descent  to  another,  until  we 
finally  reach  the  level  of  our  quiet 
street.  Jit  the  corners,  the  wood  men 
came  in  with  their  heavily  loaded  wood* 
sleds,  and  the  sleigh  bells  rang  right 
merrily  as  though  it  were  a  winter's 
holiday.  «««««« 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL        51 


Stockbridac,  Jan*  27,  1752. 


RE  sacred  writer  said,  "O  that 
T  had  wings  like  a  dove,  that 
T  might  fly  away,  and  be  at 
rest."  Even  Stockbridgc  has 
my  honored  father's  enemies, 
not  Indians,  that  lurk  in  the  wilderness 
"iTx       and   waylay  the  unsuspecting  victim. 
'4      Our  Indians,  especially  the  fiousaton- 
acs,  are  peaceable  and  docile.   Chere  is 
not  a  member  of  this  family,  that  is  not 
engaged  in  giving  them  instruction  in 
the  Bible.    Hnd  our  honored  father  has 
determined  to  send  Jonathan  the  sec* 
ond  when  he  is  nine  years  old  to  live 
among  Itlr.  Brainerd's  Indians,  that  he 
may  learn  their  language  in  his  child* 
hood,  and  thus  escape  the  hard  labor  of 
acquiring  a  language  in  his  adult  life, 
not  Indians,  but  the  scattered  remnants 
off  that  bitter  company,  who  moved  my 
father  from  northampton. 

my  father  has  just  written  to  his 
own  father:  "my  wife  and  children  are 
well  pleased  with  our  present  situation. 
Chey  like  the  place  far  better  than  they 


' 


52 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


expected.  Here,  at  present,  we  live  in 
peace;  which  has,  of  a  long  time,  been 
unusual  to  us.  Che  Indians  seem  much 
pleased  with  our  family,  especially  my 
wife."  Jlnd  yett  there  is  trouble  enough 
here.  It  was  only  the  other  day,  that  a 
visitor  to  the  male  tllohawk  school 
struck  a  child  of  the  Chief  Sachem  of 
the  Onoquagas  on  the  head  with  his 
cane,  without  any  provocation.  Che 
Iroquois  are  all  indignant,  and  threaten 
to  leave  the  town.  Uery  improper  use 
has  been  made  of  the  moneys  which 
have  been  sent  here  by  IHr.  Fjoilis,  the 
English  patron  of  the  Indian  schools. 
Che  individual  who  has  received  these 
moneys,  has  had  no  school  established, 
and  kept  no  regular  account  of  his  ex- 
penditures. Che  Indian  children  have 
been  permitted  to  grow  up  in  filth  and 
ignorance.  But  as  this  man  has  mar- 
ried into  the  family  of  the  resident  trus- 
tee all  of  this  is  covered  up.  But,  of 
course,  nir.  Edwards  feels  bound  in 
duty,  to  communicate  the  facts  to  the 
Boston  Commissioners.  «  «  « 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     53 


Stockbridqc.  feb.  2,  1752. 


Sally  Prince  of  Boston, 
whose  father  is  a  great 
friend  of  my  father's,  and 
who  is  herself  a  great  friend 
of  mine,  has  been  writing 
me  about  the  sports  of  the  winter  in  that 
city*  mith  us  simple  country  people, 
the  chief  place  of  social  recreation  and 
amusement  is  the  sinqina-school.  He* 
sides  the  pleasure  of  getting  together 
one  evening  each  week,  when  we  are 
arranged  for  part  singing,  the  singers 
are  permitted  to  sit  in  the  gallery  on 
Sundays,  if  they  promise  to  keep  to 
their  own  seats,  and  not  infringe  on  the 
women's  pews*  Che  women,  of  course, 
do  not  need  to  make  any  such  promise 
about  the  men.  Sometimes,  indeed,  we 
have  sleighing  parties,  and  those  that 
love  dancing  finish  up  such  parties 
with  a  social  dance.  Chough  my  honor* 
ed  father  believes  that  such  customs 
are  full  of  danger  to  young  people.  In 
that  sermon  at  Northampton,  which 
created  the  great  disturbance,  resulting 
in  his  being  dismissed,  I  remember  he 
said  this:  "T  do  not  desire  that  young 
people  should  he  abridged  of  any  prop* 
er  liberties,"  showing  that  he  was 


54 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


not  arbitrary  and  unreasonable  in  bis 
views:  but  tbat  certain  social  practices 
were  creeping  in  tbat  deserved  bis  re- 
buke. ««««««« 


*x 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL        55 


Stockbridge,  Tcb.,  1725. 


55 

ffXj 


R 


family  is  very  busy  mak- 
ing lace  and  embroidery,  so 
as  to  replenish  the  household 
treasury.  In  Northampton, 
my  honored  father  had  pur- 
chased a  valuable  homestead,  with 
land  for  fuel  and  pasturing,  and  had 
erected  a  commodious  dwelling  house* 
Chese  had,  by  our  exercising  the  strict- 
est  economy,  all  been  paid  for,  before 
his  removal.  Hmong  the  bitterest  of  our 
experiences,  therefore,  was  to  be  sent 
roofless  and  homeless  to  a  wilderness. 
But,  neither  my  honored  mother,  nor 
any  of  the  children  bated  a  jot  of  hope. 
Ule  began  at  once,  the  making  and  dec- 
oration of  fans  and  other  ornamental 
work,  which  we  were  assisted  to  dis- 
pose of  in  Boston,  by  our  friends  the 
Princes  there,  Bow  narrow  our  circum- 
stances were,  may  be  seen  from  the  ne- 
cessity put  upon  our  father,  to  use  the 
margins  of  otherwise  useless  pamphlets 
and  the  backs  of  letters,  on  which  to 
write  his  sermons  and  treaties.  But, 
he  knows  no  other  law  of  life,  and  so  he 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


keeps  on  with  bis  thirteen  hours  a  day 
in  bis  study.  Re  has  lately  bad  a  bex* 
agonal  table  made,  witb  six  several  in* 
dining  leaves*  so  tbat  be  can  bave  bis 
books  of  reference  before  bis  eyes,  all 
at  once,  and  can  leave  them  open  at  tbe 
passage  where  be  leaves  off.  «  « 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


57 


Stockbridgc. 


sound  echoes  through 
our  hills.  Every  Sabbath 
day,  and  every  lccture«day» 
one  of  the  praying  Indians 
blows  a  conch*shell,  to  call 
the  people  to  worship.  Jit  first,  it 
seemed  wanting  in  solemnity,  but,  now 
we  are  used  to  it,  the  shell  begins  to 
have  a  sacred  sound,  and  the  summons 
is  speedily  heeded.  1  am  fond  of  watch' 
ing  the  people  as  they  congregate:  Che 
Indians  gliding  up  the  river*bank  in 
their  noiseless  canoes,  the  farmers  and 
wives  on  horseback,  with  children  in 
arms,  or  tucked  in,  here  and  there,  as 
there  is  space  for  them,  the  pedestrians: 
rich  and  poor  meeting  together  before 
the  Cord,  who  is  maker  of  us  all.  « 


$ 


4 


58 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


Stockbridge,  may,  1752. 


R1S  has  just  happened  to  me: 
Rev.  Itlr.  Burr  of  tlewark, 
President  of  the  new  Jersey 
College,  wbo  has  visited  our 
bouse,  both  in  tlortbampton 
and  Stockbridge  for  many  years;— as  a 
little  girl,  T  have  romped  with  him .  and 
sat  on  bis  lap,  rose  this  fl.  Til*  to  take 
an  early  breakfast  and  start  for  borne 
again,  betimes,  on  horseback  to  the 
Hudson,  fltid  as  it  was  my  week  to  care 
for  the  table,  I  bad  spread  the  break- 
fast for  him,  no  other  member  of  tbe 
family  having  yet  arisen.  Che  clotb 
was  as  wbite  as  snow,  for  T  bad  taken 
out  a  fresh  one  with  its  clean  smell,  for 
tbe  occasion,  and  tbere  was  not  a 
crease  in  it;  tbe  room  was  full  of  tbe 
aroma  of  tbe  freshly  made  tea.  T  bad 
selected  some  of  tbe  last  caddy,  that 
came  from  tbe  Rev.  Chomas  Prince's  of 
Boston,  a  family  very  dear  to  us.  Che 
newly  churned  butter  was  as  yellow  as 
gold.  T  bad  rolled  it  and  stamped  it 
witb  my  own  bands,  flnd  to  top  tbe 
wbole,  one  of  our  father's  deacons,  an 
Indian,  wbo  knew  of  Itlr.  Burr's  early 
start,  bad  brougbt  in  some  fish  freshly 
taken  from  tbe  fiousatonic.  ttlr.  Burr 


T 
4* 


T 

T 
T 

4 
4 


*t 

t 
t 


if 


t 


-r  -r  -r  -r  -r  -r  -r 

ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL  59 


partook  with  the  greatest  relish*  keep* 
ing  up  a  current  of  gracious  speech*  ev- 
ery moment;  and  finally  fixing  bis 
flashing  eyes  on  me,  as  I  sat  rapt  and 
listening  at  the  other  end  of  the  board* 
he  abruptly  said:  "Esther  Edwards, 
last  night*  T  made  bold  to  ask  your  hon- 
ored father*  if  T  can  gain  your  consent* 
that  T  might  take  you  as  Ittrs.  Burr*  to 
my  tlewark  bachelor's  quarters  and 
help  convert  them  into  a  Christian 
home*  Ulbat  say  you  ?"  Of  course*  al- 
though from  my  early  girlhood*  Itlr. 
Burr  had  treated  me  with  favor*  T  was 
wholly  unprepared  for  this  sudden 
speech,  and  blushed  to  my  ears  and 
looked  down;  and  stammered  out*  as 
we  are  taught  to  say  here :  "If  it  please 
the  Cord !"  Chough  when  we  came  to 
separate*  T  could  not  help  playfully  say- 
ing* "Was  it  the  loaves  and  fishes*  Itlr. 
Burr?"  fie  laughed,  and  kissed  me  for 
the  first  time.  «  «  «  «  « 

T  am  only  seventeen,  and  T  had  nev- 
er received  such  attention  from  any  per- 
son. JInd  it  has  set  my  being  all  aglow 
with  new  life.  JInd  so  we  parted,  he  for 
his  ride  through  the  wilderness  to  the 


Sfl 


t 


ragn 

/il^nC/^ 

60          ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


fiudson,  and  T  to  resume  my  domestic 
duties.  T  soon  beard  my  heart  keeping 
time  to  bis  horse's  boots  as  tbey  made 
tbe  turnpike  echo,  and  1  paused  to 
watcb  tbe  splendid  animal  ascend  tbe 
hillside  to  tbe  Ulcst.  Che  sun  was  just 
rising,  and  smiting  tbe  river  mists  witb 
'.s  rod  of  gold.  Hnd  T  went  about  all 
day,  making  melody  in  my  heart  to  tbe 
Cord*  my  dear  mother  appeared  to  sur- 
mise tbe  new  secret  of  my  life  tor, 
doubtless,  mr.  Edwards  bad  told  her, 
as  tbey  haw  no  secrets  from  each  other, 
but  said  notbing.  meanwhile.  T  tried  to 
imagine  mr.  Burr's  progress  from  point 
to  point,  until  be  reached  tbe  sloop  on 
tbe  river,  and  tben  T  seemed  to  lose  him 
among  tbe  bigblands,  as  tbe  sloop  bore 
him  seaward  to  tlewark,  my  heart  witb 
him.  T  could  not  belp  asking  myself: 
"Has  be  been  waiting  for  me,  all  these 
years  T1  Ht  any  rate,  T  thought  to  my« 
self,  T  am  bis  Racbel;  bis  lamb,  as  tbe 
word  means,  nor  do  T  need  to  steal  my 
tather's  gods,  as  did  she.  For  already 
bis  God  is  my  Hod !  and  bis  people, 
my  people.  «««««« 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL      61 


Stockbridge*  march,  1752. 

TRG  pressure  of  duties  upon  nir . 
Edwards*  my  honored  father,  has 
been  so  great*  that  it  seems  al- 
most impossible  for  him  to  en* 
dure  it.    UJhat  with  preaching  to 
the  white  people*  and  the  Indians*  and 
catechisina  the  children:  what  with  put* 
ting  up  a  new  dwclling*house  and  get* 
ting  together  money  to  pay  for  it:  what 
with  the  intrigues  of  those  who  are  sc= 
cretly  obstructing  his  work  and  trying  to 
supplant  him;  and  what  with  his  con* 
stant  thinking  and  writing*  my  honored 
mother  is  fearful  that  his  health  will  be 
utterly    broken    down,    indeed,  he  al- 
ready has  the  symptoms  of  ague  and 
fever*  which  is  very  prevalent  in  these 
new  settlements.      «      «      «      c      « 


*^]lr '  **R^* 


5$^W^ 

i&^Ag&M 


w?*Ol 
62        ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL                 RrVj 

pws 

Stockbridge,  3unc  S,  1752. 

L^CS 

^^ 

TRTS  is  my   last  day  in   Stock- 
bridge,  in  this  dear  home,  with 
my  honored  mother  and  sisters. 

?XJ 
£Xi? 

Che  orchards  are  filled  with  ap« 

<i^> 

ple*bloom  as  for  a  bridal.  Dear 

rV^ 

beautiful    Stockbridge;   the    sweetest 

v^> 

place  on  earth,  with  her  mountains  tree< 

^ffp 

topped  to  the  blue  skies,  her  miniature 

rXj? 

meadows  along  the  ffiousatonic,  where 

kvl> 

the  Indians  have  their  picturesque  en* 

^? 

campments,  the  river,  willow=embos= 

^j 

omed,  where  the  strong  arms  of  my 
tawny  friends  have  so  often  noislessly 

S? 

_ 

guided  the  canoe,  and  we  have  glided 

"  t    !J 

f^J? 

as  in  a  dream.    Yes,  also  dear  sanctu> 

^  ^w^ 

K^ 

ary  of  God,  where  the  red  man  and  the 

^(^ 

p*§^ 

white  man  have  dwelt  together  in  peace, 

v^ 

KTvJ 

as   in  their  own  Father's  Rouse,   and 

^j 

aShi 

where   my   good    father's    instruction 

<j^ 

K^ 

has  so  often  fallen  upon  us  all  alike,  as 

^JV^ 

|^j^ 

manna  from   Rcaven.     "  Blessed  are 

^j 

SS 

they  that  dwell  in  thy  house  ;  they  shall 

^^ 

1 

still  be  praising  thec."       «      *      « 

1 

H 

^  t^J^ 
^  ^  ^ 

l??Sir^?!r?^fr?^^ 

^:*\&^\£v^^x^d£>^ 

ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     63 


Stockbridge. 


sometimes  essayed  a 
description  to  myself  of  rtlr. 
Edwards.  Cet  me  do  it  again, 
before  1  leave  my  father's 
bouse  for  tbe  bouse  of  my 
husband,  fiis  face  is  almost  womanly 
in  refinement  and  feature,  and  grace. 
Cbere  is  a  kind  of  sweet  sedateness,  an 
elevated,  almost  celestial  serenity,  to 
some,  perhaps  severity,  of  expression. 
flnd  wben  be  is  speaking  in  tbe  pulpit, 
it  often  seems  that  bis  voice  has  a  su- 
pernatural, an  angelic  tenderness  and 
authority.  Cbere  is  in  bis  utterance  no 
weakness  or  softness,  though  it  is  not  a 
loud  voice  nor  very  masculine.  Cbere 
is  sucb  a  hoi  v  loyalty  to  tbe  truth  in  tbe 
speaker,  as  though  be  were  one  of  God's 
swift  messengers,  unwinged  indeed, 
save  in  tbe  spirit,  which  often  tries  lofty 
flights,  but  coming  straight  from  tbe  in- 
effable glory,  commissioned  of  infinite 
love  to  proclaim  tbe  trutb  and  defend  it. 
In  person,  be  sometimes  reminds  me  of 
Iflicbael  flngclo's  arch-angel  with 
drawn  sword  ;  of  pictures  of  3obn  tbe 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


evangelist,  which  our  Scotland  friends, 
the  €rskine$t  have  sent  us,  and  which 
hand  in  our  living  room.  «  «  « 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     65 


Stockbridgc,  June,  1752. 


F>e  good  man  who  has  chos* 
en  me  for  his  bride,  has  sent 
a  young  messenger  from 
llcwark,  with  two  horses,  to 
conduct  my  honored  mother 
and  myself  to  new  Jersey,  fie  says, 
Chere  is  plenty  of  Scripture  for  it.  Did 
not  Isaac  thus  send  for  Rcbckah  ?  1  am 
to  ride  nimrod,  Ittr.  Burr's  great  admir* 
ation  and  pride.  T  am  glad  to  go.  I 
suppose  T  feel  some  as  did  Christiana, 
in  "Pilgrim's  Progress,"  when  she  had 
summons  to  follow  her  husband.  Is  it 
wrong  to  think  of  my  new  home  as  the 
type  of  heaven  ?  T  hope  it  is  not  wrong 
to  feel  so.  T  had  f o  kiss  the  bark  of  the 
elm=trcc,  that  stands  in  front  of  my  win* 
dow,  and  where  T  have  so  often  watched 
the  returning  robins,  as  they  huilt  their 
nests  and  reared  their  young,  and  then 
taught  them  to  fly  away;  and  now  T  am 
to  stretch  my  wings  and  go,  after  their 
example.  But,  mine  are  the  wings  of 
the  dove !«««««« 

Ulhen  we  mounted  the  hill,  on  our 
way  toward  Ulest  Stockbridge,  I  was 
fain  to  turn  again  and  look  back  on  the 
lovely  little  town  in  the  valley,  and  the 
surrounding  mountains  in  their  grand- 


66 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


cur.  On  either  side  stood  the  bills*  late  = 
ly  clothed  with  new  verdure;  between 
them,  the  beautiful  intervales,  beneath 
which  crept  the  river,  the  smootb=qlid- 
ing  fiousatonic,  and  where  were  feeding 
the  cattle*  7  shut  my  eyes  if  I  might  fix 
the  picture  and  make  it  mine  forever, 
and  then  rode  on  with  my  companions* 
Jind  soon  Rimrod,  with  his  eager  spirit, 
gave  me  enough  to  attend  to.  Re  seem* 
ed  to  know  he  was  taking  me  to  his 
master.  «  c  «  c  «  « 

me  took  the  turnpike  to  the  fiud* 
son.  Che  road  having  been  lately 
mended,  our  progress  was  slow.  In- 
deed, there  were  some  passages  where 
the  men  were  still  at  work  picking  out 
the  stones  and  the  stumps.  But,  even 
this  gave  us  all  the  more  leisure  to  look 
at  the  beautiful  woods,  and  to  hear  the 
brooks  full  of  glancing  fish,  bubbling 
by  the  roadside.  Che  birds  were  very 
lively  with  their  songs,  and  the  bushy* 
tailed  squirrels  were  full  of  their 
pranks.  Che  early  dews,  too,  were 
dropping  on  the  leaves,  flnd  soon  my 
steed  having  come  to  know  his  rider, 
moved  on  obediently,  and  as  though 
more  than  satisfied  with  his  burden. 
Our  riding  companion,  who  has  just 


4 
* 


^sM^t^Jt^t£*t|J  J>^ 


55? 

*<kj* 

ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL        67 

0 

H 

n 

1 

graduated  at  the  College,  was  not  very 
talkative,  tbougb  quite  enougb  so  for 
me.   my  dear  motber,  wbo  was  witb  us 
—but,  ab,  only  a  motber  could  know  tbe 
soliloquies  going  on  in  her  heart.    She 

s 

^^ 

bid    all    those  motber*tbougbts,  even 
from  me*   1  am  afraid,  it  sometimes 
seemed  to  ber,  tbat  sbe  was  accompany^ 
ing  ber  Isaac,  to  a  place  tbat  Bod  would 
tell  ber  of—  for  tbe  altar,    c      c      « 

Gsther  Burr's  Song. 

m 

1 

1 

SI 

My  lore  hath  love  that  he  sendeth  me 

H 

SI 

St 

From  the  piney  wilds,  where  the  mayflow'r  blows, 
And  the  princely  Hudson  seaward  goes. 
And  I  have  love,  that  I  waft  to  him, 
As  I  mount  my  steed  for  the  Hudson's  brim; 
As  1  mount  my  steed  and  speed  to  him. 

^s<^  ^3^L. 

^P»      T"^^ 

?xS 

£*i 

6%> 

<j£5 
^P 

<A? 

<t^> 

s 

ii 

ivi 

Si^!^S^S^@H 

l§ 

68 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


On  Sloop,  fiudson  River. 

Ottl  T  know  what  a  grand 
river  is.  Our  own  Conncc* 
ticut  at  nortbampton,  as  if 
sweeps  along  through  the 
wide  intervales*  especially 
in  the  spring  time,  when  its  bosom  is 
full,  is  a  very  impressive  sight :  but  the 
scene  is  still  rather  picturesque,  than 
grand.  Cbere  is  an  attractive  softness 
about  the  whole  landscape.  Che  moun= 
tains  are  distant,  and  not  so  high.  But, 
here  the  mountains  crowd  up  to  the 
very  banks  of  the  river,  as  if  to  dispute 
its  progress  to  the  sea;  as  sometimes  to 
the  eye,  while  We  move  along  through 
their  fastnesses,  they  seem  actually  to 
have  done.  Che  lights  and  shadows 
made  upon  them  by  the  floating  clouds, 
their  own  reflection  in  the  water,  the 
great  width  of  the  river,  sometimes  a\- 
most  like  a  lake  with  here  and  there  a 
Dutch  village,  or  an  Tndian  encamp* 
ment  on  either  bank,  the  exhilaration  of 
the  whole,  1  can  never  forget.  Jlnd 
then,  when  we  came  to  what  one  might 
call  the  palisades,  there  were  new  at- 
tractions. Jit  length*  new  York,  at  the 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     69 


mouth  of  the  river,  with  its  harbor  of 
sloops,  and  bcre  and  there,  a  larger  ves- 
sel* JInd  then  Dcwark  bay  and  rivert 
and  my  new  borne  in  the  Jerseys.— Hnd, 
then,  taking  tbe  trip  without  mr.  Burr, 
as  it  were,  added  to  tbe  romance.  It 
seemed  more  like  realizing  tbe  Scrip- 
ture words  respecting  marriage:  about 
leaving  fatber  and  mother.  Chough 
mother,  bless  her  sweet  heart,  is  witb 
me  still.  T  could  not  dream  her  away; 
blessed  soul !««««« 


70 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


Newark,  n.  3.,  June  29, 1752. 

TRTS  day  1  was  married  to  the 
man  who  has  chosen  me  for  bis 
helpmate  in  the  Cord;  and, who,  T 
have  reasons  to  believe  has  been 
waiting  for  me  as  long  as  Jacob  tarried 
for  Rachel,  lie  is  my  senior  in  years, 
but  is  young  and  elastic  in  spirit,  full  of 
Christian  enterprise.  Chough  short  in 
stature,  compared  with  my  honored  \a-- 
ther,  who  is  very  tall:  and  though  of  a 
delicate  frame,  like  my  father,  he  is  all 
energy  and  zeal:  moving  here  and  there 
and  everywhere,  almost  like  a  flash  of 
light.  flnd  yet  he  is  modest  and  unas- 
suming; though  everywhere  at  his  ease; 
courteous  too,  and  obliging  to  all.  fie 
has  been  pastor  here  for  fifteen  years, 
and  he  is  almost  his  people's  idol.  Jlnd 
now  1  have  come  to  address  myself  to 
the  duties  of  a  pastor's  wife,  in  which* 
although  T  have  my  mother  as  an  exam- 
ple, T  am  so  unlike  her  that  the  task  does 
not  seem  an  easy  one.  Sfic  began  her 
married  life  at  seventeen.  T  begin  mine 
at  18=19.  mr.  Burr  has  acquired  the  rep* 
utation  here,  of  being  a  lover  of  bospi* 
tality.  fiis  door  is  always  open,  and  his 
board  always  full,  fie  is  a  bountiful 
giver,  and  though  himself  abstemious  at 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL         71 


tbe  table,  be  wants  to  see  it  generously 
t urn i shed,  and  as  be  has  tbe  means  to 
do  it,  T  shall  try  to  gratify  him;  tbougb  it 
will  be  very  mucb  better  provided  than 
our  own  table,  at  my  father's  bouse, 
wbere  evreytbing  was  as  simple  and 
plain  as  possible*  Chough  in  nortbamp= 
ton  and  Stockbridge,  rtlr.  and  Itlrs.  ed= 
wards  were  careful  to  fulfill  tbe  injunc= 
tion:  "Use  hospitality  without  grudg= 
ing."  Che  stranger  was  always  wel= 
come*  «  «  c  c  c  c  c 


JOURNAL 


<fr 


newark,  17S2. 


£  busband,  nir.  Burr,  has 
persuaded  me  to  take  up 
Gatin  with  him.  T  bad 
learned  it  a  little  in  our 
borne  at  nortbampton, 
wbere  was  mucb  teacbing  of  tbe  clas> 
sics.  flnd  last  evening  be  read  with  me 
a  letter  of  tbe  Roman  orator  Cicero,  ad* 
dressed  in  bis  exile,  "to  bis  Dear  €er* 
entia,  bis  Cittle  Cullia,  and  bis  Darling 
Cicero."  nir.  Burr  believes  it  to  be 
genuine.  Itlr.  Burr  was  speaking  of 
Cicero's  surprise  that  great  calamity 
sbould  bave  overtaken  one,  whose  wife 
bad  so  faithfully  worshipped  tbe  gods, 
and  wbo  bad  himself  been  so  services 
able  to  man,  and  said  it  reminded  him  of 
wbat  tbe  tempter  says  of  tbe  patriarcb* 
"Dotb  3ob  serve  God  for  naugbt?" 
Hnd  tben  be  remarked  tbe  effeminate 
sensibility  of  tbe  writer,  wbo  says  be 
would  write  oftener,  did  not  writing 
make  bis  grief  at  tbeir  separation  more 
insupportable ;  drawing  a  parallel  to 
tbeir  advantage  with  tbe  words  of  job : 
"Cbougb  be  slay  me,  yet  will  T  trust  in 
bim !"  Cbis  is  a  babit  witb  nir.  Burr. 
It  is  as  tbougb  be  carried  tbe  two  worlds 
in  bis  mind  in  that  parallel  manner. 


4f> 

& 


<• 

4f» 
4f» 


<0 

4f» 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     73 


ncwark,  1752. 

'€  has  been  a  great  refresh* 
mcnt  to  my  soul,  to*day, 
to  bear  again  Itlr.  Edwards, 
my  honored  father*  from  the 
pulpit.  1  still  think,  there  is 
none  like  him.  Re  was  corresponding 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Synod, 
which  sat  here,  and  he  preached  from 
jamcs  Thl9.  It  was  especially  grateful 
to  his  daughter  to  witness,  in  this 
strange  land,  how  eagerly  his  words 
were  received,  especially  by  all  of  the 
ministers*  Chcrc  are  those  in  two  con- 
tinents who  honor  and  revere  his  name, 
though  Northampton,  in  her  worldly 
pride,  cast  him  out  and  spat  upon  him. 
I  never  recall  that,  without  thinking 
of  how  Jlbsalom  and  those  that  felt 
with  him,  treated  David  the  King  in  his 
exile  from  his  throne.  It  was  Jlbsalom 
in  both  cases,  a  young  upstart  in  his 
pride,  who  was  most  officious.  T  shall 
yet  live  to  see  how  humbly  some  of 
those  people  will  return  with  confession 
and  tears.  Chough  this  is  not  becoming 
in  a  minister's  daughter  and  a  minis= 
ter's  wife.  «««««« 


74 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


Rewark,  1752* 


R.  Burr  read  to  me  again 
from  the  letters  of  Cicero  to 
bis  wife  and  children.  Tn 
this  letter,  as  Itlr.  Burr 
translated  it,  occurs  this 
passage:  "It  is  our  very  virtue,  which 
has  brought  us  disgrace.  Ole  have 
committed  no  other  fault  than  that  of 
surviving  our  own  good  fortune."  Che 
great  Roman,  Ttlr.  Burr  said,  wonders 
that  virtue  should  be  so  maligned  and 
punished.  Che  greater  Jlpostle  could 
write  to  the  elders  of  the  church  at 
ephesus:  "none  of  these  things  move 
me,  neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto 
me,  so  that  T  may  finish  my  course  with 
ioy."  JInd  a  greater  than  the  Jlpostle 
has  put  it  among  the  beatitudes  of  his 
kingdom:  "Blessed  are  ye  when  men 
shall  revile  you  and  persecute  you  and 
say  all  manner  of  evil  against  you  false* 
ly  for  my  sake."  Ulhat  a  contrast  be 
tween  the  triumphant  Christian  martyr, 
and  the  puzzled  and  discouraged  feel- 
ing of  the  pagan  philosopher.  Cerentia, 
as  he  had  said  before,  had  done  what 
she  could  to  appease  the  gods  by  her 
piety,  and  he  to  propitiate  the  people  by 
his  service.  But,  this  combination  of 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


75 


reliaion  and  morality  did  not  protect 
them.  Chcv  did  not  seem  to  know,  that 
6od's  real  children  are  made  perfect 
through  suffering.  Chis  is  the  Christian 
mystery,  to  which  the  master  intro- 
duces ns.  «««««« 


76 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


llewark,  April,  1753. 

mH .  Burr  bas  just  rode  up  to  tbe 
door  on  bis  Himrod,  the  sad= 
die  horse,  which  be  bad  me 
name  nimrodt  because  be 
bad  been  a  great  bunter— 
and  in  which  we  botb  of  us  take  much 
pride,  fie  beckoned  to  me  as  1  sat  at 
tbe  window  with  my  sewing,  and  T  glid= 
ed  down  to  pat  Him  rod's  glossy  neck, 
and  to  kiss  tbe  bandsome  rider,  fie  bas 
just  set  out  alone  for  Elizabeth,  wbere 
once  dwelt  tbe  Kcv.  nir.  Dickenson, 
who  was  interested  with  my  husband  in 
tbe  founding  of  tbe  new  college,  and 
wbere  is  tbe  residence  of  Governor  Bel- 
cber.  Sometimes  cur  colored  man, 
fiarry,  wbo  is  very  conceited  about  bis 
skill  as  a  horseman,  drives  ITir.  Burr  on 
sucb trips;  but,  at  this  season  of  tbe 
year,  tbe  roads  are  so  unsettled,  tllr. 
Burr  prefers  tbe  saddle.  T  have  come 
back  to  my  sewing,  but  1  keep  tbe  pic- 
ture of  my  knigbt  in  my  mind's  eye :  tbe 
slender  but  erect  figure,  tbe  steed 
cbamping  bis  bit,  witb  mottled  back  and 
sides,  and  bis  neck  clothed  witb  tbun- 
der  ;  tbe  graceful  borseman— for  1  must 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     77 


come  back  to  him  sitting  in  the  saddle 
as  though  born  there;  as  though  horse 
and  man  were  but  one,  according  to  the 
classic  conception  of  the  centaur. 


Dewarfe,  Dec.,  1754. 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


had  a  sweet  and  preci- 
ous letter  from  my  own  dear 
honored  mother,  full  of  sym- 
pathy and  appreciation.  She 
writes  of  the  sacred  privil- 
ege of  motherhood*  Indeed,  I  have 
heard  her  say,  that  she  should  be  wills 
ing  to  be  the  mother  of  children,  even  if 
they  were  to  have  no  protracted  life  in 
this  world;  she  has  such  an  exalted 
conception  of  their  destiny  hereafter. 
"Of  such  is  the  Kingdom  of  God." 
She  cautions  me  tenderly  as  to  the  cf» 
feet  of  the  feelings  and  affections  of  the 
mother  upon  the  child  unborn :  and  as* 
sures  me,  as  myself  the  daughter  of 
many  prayers,  that  1  may  safely  entrust 
all  my  anxieties  to  a  covenant  God. 
Chis  was  in  answer  to  a  letter  in  which 
T  had  intimated  a  happy  secret,  which 
is  gladdening  our  newark  home.  I  do 
not  forget  that  she  herself  seemed 
especially  to  walk  with  Bod,  when  the 
advent  of  another  member  of  her  own 
faml1y=circle  was  drawing  nigh.  She 
always  seemed  to  feel  that  all  her  chil- 
dren were  gotten  from  the  Cord,  as  the 
first  human  mother  expresses  it.  « 


ncwark,  3an.t  1754. 


first  year  of  my  married 
life,  1  often  found  myself 
comparing  Itlr.  Burr,  my 
aood  husband,  with  lllr.  Ed- 
wards, my  honored  father. 
Having  always  heard  my  father  preach 
from  my  childhood,  and  knowing  that 
he  is  reckoned  a  prince  among  the 
Cord's  servants,  this  is  not  strange.  1 
think  my  father  more  impressive  and 
solemn  ;  but,  Itlr.  Burr  is  more  ingrati* 
ating,  and  captivating;  has  more  of 
what  people  call  eloquence,  my  honor- 
ed father  has  such  rigid  and  intense 
earnestness,  that  he  is  led  almost  to 
scorn  all  adornment  of  discourse. 
While  of  late  years,  writing  on  his  ab- 
stract treatises,  and  preaching  largely 
to  the  Tndians  of  Stockbridge,  who  are 
but  little  demonstrative,  he  has  grown 
more  and  more  careless  of  outward 
grace.  Besides  he  is  by  nature  more 
reserved.  Iflr.  Burr's  nature  seems  to 
bubble  up  and  overflow  into  expression, 
taking  on  beautiful  tinted  sprays  like 
the  water  of  a  fountain.  Re  often  seems 


m 


80 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


to  me  less  a  man  commissioned  to  wit= 
ness  against  the  wickedness  of  a  sinful 
world,  than  a  celestial  messenger  of  in* 
vitation  winged  to  earth,  bis  face  radi- 
antt  bis  eyes  full  of  kindly  fire  and  bis 
voice  melody  itself*  Hut.  every  man  af- 
ter bis  own  order.  Since  1738,  sixteen 
years,  beginning  witb  bis  twenty*tbird 
vcar,  be  has  been  pastor  here .  «  « 


m 


v**-/ 

m 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     81 


\~f*/ 

m 


tlewark, 


.  25,  1754. 


bis  day  is  the  appointed  day 
for  our  wood  carting.  Che 
farmers  in  our  parish  bring 
load  after  load  of  wood  front 
the  parsonage  lot,  and  it  is 
chopped  up  in  the  yard  and  made  ready 
for  the  tire-place.  Such  a  day  of  confu= 
sion  it  has  been  !  Such  a  noise  of  driv- 
ing oxen,  I  hope  we  may  never  have  for 
a  twelve  month  at  least.  «  «  « 

next  week,  (he  Presbyfciy  is  to  sit 
here,  and  it  is  expected  they  will  dis- 
miss Iflr.  Burr  from  the  church  and 
congregation,  to  give  himself  wholly  to 
the  care  of  the  College.  It  is  a  severe 
strain  upon  us  all.  For  here,  as  T  have 
said  before,  he  is  almost  idolized.  But, 
he  thinks  of  the  demands  upon  young 
men,  as  godly  ministers,  and  we  are 
both  willing  to  make  the  sacrifice.  T 
can  see  plainly  that  it  all  goes  back  to 
successfully  founding  an  institution 
where  young  men  can  be  fitted  for  the 
Christian  ministry;  the  long  dream  and 
prayer  of  TTlr.  Edwards  as  well  as  of 
himself.  «««««« 


>.••*••/ 

m 


82 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


Ilewark,  Dec.  1, 1754. 


XCHEinECV  hurried  prepar* 
ing  for  the  Presbytery.  Cues= 
day  provided  a  dinner  and 
nobody  came  until  afternoon. 
Enough  to  try  a  body's  pati- 
ence. In  the  evening  they  came  thick 
and  fast.  Presbytery  sat  on  our  affairs, 
and  adjourned  till  January.  Our  people 
are  in  a  great  pickle.  Some  of  them 
show  a  very  bad  spirit.  c  c  c 

Chursday:  Dined  ten  ministers. 
Chis  day,  Presbytery  examined  a  young 
candidate  for  the  ministry  for  one  of  the 
Dutch  Islands  in  the  Ulest  Indies,  c 


<• 

I 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


55 


Dcwark,  3an.  i,  1755* 


day  set  apart  for  fasting 
and  prayer,  on  account  of 
the  late  encroachments  of 
the  French*  and  their  dc= 
signs  against  the  British 
Colonies  of  America.  President  Burr 
preached  what  was  largely  a  historical 
discourse,  giving  the  Trench  progress 
from  the  time  of  Rcnry  TU.  Chcsc  were 
the  closing  paragraphs : 

"Shall  we  tamely  suffer  our  delight' 
ful  possessions  to  be  taken  from  us? 
become  the  dupes  and  the  slaves  of  a 
Trench  tyrant  ?  God  forbid!  'Cishigh 
time  to  awake,  to  call  up  all  the  Briton 
within  us,  every  spark  of  English  valor, 
cheerfully  to  offer  up  our  purses,  our 
arms,  and  our  lives  to  the  defence  of 
our  country,  our  holy  religion,  our  ex> 
cellent  constitution,  and  invaluable  lib- 
erties. Tor  what  is  Cife  without  Ciber* 
ty?  'Cis  not  worth  having.  H  free* 
born  Briton  should  disdain  the  life  of  a 
slave.  Better,  far  better  to  sacrifice 
it  to  the  defence  of  our  liberty  and 
country,  than  to  survive  the  dismal 


day,  when  these  regions  of  light  and 
liberty  shall  be  overspread  with  ignor- 
ance, superstition,  and  tyranny,  flnd 
had  we  but  the  spirit  of  our  brave  an-- 
cestors,  who  cheerfully  ventured  their 
lives,  and  resigned  all  the  comforts 
thereof  in  an  howling  wilderness,  were 
we  animated  by  the  same  heroic  spirit 
in  defence  of  them,  with  the  same  ar* 
dent  desire  of  leaving  them  inviolate  to 
posterity,  we  should  soon  make  our  en« 
emies  flee  before  us,  and  again  sit 
quietly  under  our  own  vines  and  fig- 
trees,  and  eat  of  the  good  of  the  land !" 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     85 


January  12, 1756.— 
mr.  Burr  gone  to  new  Vork, 
and  T  as  busv  as  a  bee.  « 

Cuesday  eve.  Chis  eve 
miss  Sukey,  our  wench,  began  with  me 
about  her  sours  concern*  Hnd  T  find 
she  has  had  a  great  many  serious 
thoughts  since  she  has  been  here*  She 
is  full  of  her  inquiries  as  to  what  she 
must  do  to  be  good.  She  tells  me  she 
tries  to  pray  from  the  heart,  but  finds 
she  can't,  and  she  seems  to  have  some 
sense  of  sin*  Dow  my  heart  is  rejoiced ! 
O  that  God  would  give  us  this  one  soul ! 
It  seems  as  if  T  could  not  be  denied  my 
request,  that  God  would  perfect  the 
good  work  that  seems  to  have  begun  in 
her  whilst  in  this  house,  O  how  great  a 
blessing  upon  us!  T  hope  God  has 
heard  some  of  my  poor  prayers  for  her. 
Hnd  T  hope  for  a  heart  to  pray  more 
earnestly  for  her  than  ever.  What  a 
comfort  to  see  those  under  our  care  in- 
clining to  the  ways  of  religion  and  true 
virtue.  «  «««««« 

march  26, 1756.— T  was  unexpected' 
ly  delivered  of  a  son  the  6th  of  Fcbru= 
ary.  Dad  a  fine  time,  although  it  pleas« 
ed  God  in  infinite  wisdom  to  order  that 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


i 
<c 

^£  ^ 

«£> 

j  : 
«£  f 

? 
*£^ 

JE.1 

"  -<. 


Iflr.  Burr  was  not  at  home.  Tt  seemed 
very  gloomy  when  T  found  my  time  bad 
comet  to  think  that  1  was,  as  it  were, 
destitute  of  earthly  friends,  no  mother, 
no  husband,  and  none  of  my  particular 
friends  that  belong  to  the  town  ;  they 
happening  to  be  out  of  town.  But  O  my 
dear  God  was  all  these  relations  and 
more  than  all  to  me  in  the  hour  of  my 
distress.  Chose  words  in  Psalms  were 
my  support  and  comfort  through  the 
whole  :  "Cbey  that  trust  in  the  Cord 
shall  be  as  mt.  Zion  that  cannot  be 
moved,  but  abideth  forever;"  and  these 
also,  "Hs  the  mountains  are  round 
about  Jerusalem  ,  so  is  the  Cord  round 
about  them  that  trust  in  him,"  or  words 
to  that  purpose*  «  «  « 

T  had  a  very  quick  and  good  time,  a 
very  good  lying  in  till  about  three 
weeks,  then  1  had  the  canker  very  bad, 
and  before  1  had  recovered  of  that  my 
little  JIaron  (for  so  we  call  him)  was  ta« 
ken  sick,  so  that  for  some  time  we  did 
not  expect  his  life,  he  has  never  been 
so  well  since,  though  he  is  comfortable 
at  present.  T  have  myself  got  a  very 
bad  cold  and  very  sore  eyes,  which 
makes  it  very  difficult  for  me  to  write  at 
all  ;  sometimes  T  am  almost  blind,  c 


A 
4 

-4 

*' 

.  : 


4  4» 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


flpril  17,  1750.  1  have  written  to 
miss  Prince  of  Boston  to  please  pro- 
cure for  me  the  following  things :  6  fan 
mounts,  two  aood  ones  for  ivory  sticks, 
two  black  and  white  and  two  white 
ones;  1*4  Ibs.  flum  arabic,  one  large  pen- 
cil  and  one  short  one,  one  dozen  of 
short  cake  pans,  my  milk-pot  altered  to 
some  shape  or  other,  a  pair  of  coral 
beads,  some  cod-fish,  patterns  of  caps, 
(not  ye  airy  caps  for  beaux  ,  send  me 
word  how  to  cut  ruffles  and  handker- 
chiefs, send  word  how  they  make 
aowns.  I  send  by  ttlr.  Burr.  «  « 

Jlpril  19, 17  se.  rtir.  Burr  has  set  out 
for  Boston.  T  need  not  write  how  lone- 
some the  house  and  everything  about  it 
appears,  nor  could  1  if  1  would.  Kittle 
Sally  observing  my  gloom  upon  nir. 
Burr's  leaving  me,  sets  herself  prettily 
as  I  think  to  comfort  me.  She  imagined 
T  was  sick.  She  says,  "mamma,  poor 
mamma  is  sick.  Don't  be  sick,  mam- 
ma, Papa  ain't  gone."  Upon  this  1 
smiled ;  the  little  creature's  eyes  sparkl- 
ed for  joy  and  she  says  in  transport, 
"mamma  ain't  sick.  Dear  mamma," 
etc.  ««««•«« 


88 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


February  20,  1757.-lHr.  Burr  was 
sent  for  the  College  about  dark,  and 
when  he  came  there  be  found  about 
twchty  young  men  in  one  room,  crying 
and  beading  to  know  what  they  should 
do  to  be  saved*  Four  of  them  under  the 
deepest  sense  of  their  wicked  hearts 
and  need  of  Christ ;  Taneuil  amongst 
the  rest*  Row  it  will  rejoice  his  good 
mother's  heart,  mr.  Burr  prayed  and 
left  them  to  come  home  greatly  affected. 
Ole  sat  and  talked  till  late  and  knew  not 
how  to  lay  by  the  glorious  subject,  c 

Teb.  21,  1757.  Good  news  to  write 
this  morning.  JH  minister's  son 
near  Philadelphia  hopefully  received 
comfort  last  night  in  the  night.  Cbcrc 
was  little  sleep  amongst  them;  some  up 
all  night,  mr.  Spencer  sat  up  till  one 
o'clock,  then  left  those  poor  young  crca= 
tures  seekiug  God.  Che  conversion  of 
this  young  Creat,  for  that  is  his  name, 
is  a  very  dear  and  remarkable  one.  Che 
particnlars  1  have  not  heard,  but  mr. 
Burr  says  he  thinks  evidently  a  work 
of  grace.  Re  has  been  under  some  im- 
pressions for  more  than  a  year,  but  his 
concern  has  increased  lately.  «  « 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     89 


10  O'clock:  H  pious  young  man 
came  from  the  College  for  mr.  Burr,  he 
tells  me  (bat  a  areat  part  of  the  scbol- 
ars  are  gathered  into  one  room,  crying 
in  great  distress,  and  that  another  bad 
received  comfort.  Oh,  my  heart  exults 
at  the  thought  that  Gcd  is  about  to  re* 
vive  religion  in  general,  may  we  not 
hope  for  it  ?  my  soul  doth  magnify  the 
Cord  for  what  he  hath  done.  «  « 

€ve :  Che  Cord's  work  goes  on  glo« 
riously  in  the  College,  mr.  Burr  sent 
for  mr.  Cennent  of  Freehold  to  come 
and  assist  in  drawing  the  net  ashore* 
for  it  is  ready  to  break  with  the  abund* 
ance  of  the  fish  that  are  caught  in  it. 
3ust  now  he  came  to  the  College  and  is 
greatly  rejoiced,  c  c  «  «  « 

9  O'clock :  no  work  carried  on  here* 
but  only  to  get  something  to  eat,  and  a 
little  of  that  will  suffice  too.  For  my 
part  T  haven't  any  creature  to  say  one 
word  to,  and  when  1  am  ready  to  burst* 
T  have  recourse  to  my  pen.  «  c 

mr*  Cennent  is  astonished  and 
amazed,  between  ioy,  sorrow,  hope  and 
fear,  and  says  he  doesn't  know  what 
passion  is  uppermost,  but  he  must  call 
it  an  angelic  ioy  that  he  feels,  which  is 


r* 

4^-  ^ 
^^f?j 

4>- 

S 
& 


& 


«|t 

<  r 


4> 
«t> 


90 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


the  case  with  us  all.  my  brother  is  un« 
der  a  great  deal  of  concern  among  the 
rest.  ««««««« 

O  what  shall  T  surrender  to  the  Cord 
for  His  goodness  in  pouring  out  His 
Spirit  in  such  a  wonderful  degree !  « 

Cuesday,  ?eb.  25, 1757.-1  am  ready 
to  set  up  my  Cabcrnacle  and  say, 
"Cord,  it  is  good  to  be  here."  Indeed, 
the  thoughts  of  living  have  never  been 
so  comfortable  to  me  as  now.  Che 
Cord  is  indeed  here,  c  «  «  « 


Wednesday,  Bug.  31,  4  o'clock  P.m. 
just  now  I  received  a  letter  with  a 
black  seal,  but  it  contained  blacker 
news.  6ov.  Belcher  is  dead  :  died  this 
B.  m.  Che  righteous  are  taken  away 
from  the  evil  to  come.  Chis  is  such  a 
loss,  that  we  cannot  expect  to  have 
made  up  in  a  Governor.  I  feel  quite 
sunk  with  this  and  other  bad  news.  His 
Cordship  is  returning  to  Dew  Vork,  and 
then  Halifax  will  be  taken  no  doubt. 

Eve :  Iflr.  Burr  not  returned.  Heavy 
news  Iflr.  Belcher's  death  will  be  to 
him.  c  c  c  c  c  c  c 

Chursday,  Eve,  Sept.  1,  1757.    Itlr. 


IT* 

«l 

«* 

*: 

4* 


* 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL  91 


Burr  returned  in  health.  O  bow  flood 
is  Cod  in  preserving  him  in  bis  goings 
out  and  bis  commas  in  !  Cbese  mercies 
ought  not  to  be  forgotten  by  me.  c 

Ittr.  Hurr,  is  sent  for  to  preach  the 
Governor's  funeral  sermon.  P.  111.  :  fl 
deal  of  company.  «  «  « 

Triday  H.  in.— If  we  go  to  Boston  we 
sball  be  tbere  by  tbe  second  week  in 
October.  «  «  «  « 

now  about  Sally  and  JIaron.  Sally 
bas  got  pretty  hearty  againt  and  is  not 
mucb  of  a  baby  ;  affects  to  be  tbougbt  a 
woman,  nothing  she  scorns  more 
than  to  be  told  sbe  is  a  child  or  baby. 
We  are  about  sending  her  to  school, 
but  Itlr.  Burr  expects  she  will  prove  a 
numb  head.  But  for  my  part,  1  think 
her  about  middling  in  all  accounts.  She 
grows  thinner  and  more  shareable.  1 
have  taken  her  to  meeting  and  she  be- 
leaves  very  well,  and  can  give  a  good 
account  of  what  papa  does  there.  She 
can  say  some  of  Dr.  Watts'  verses  by 
heart  and  the  Cord's  Prayer  and  some 
other  prayers*  But  she  is  not  over 
about  the  matter.  «  «  c 


92 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


Haren  is  a  little*  dirty*  noisy  boy* 
very  different  from  Sally  almost  in  ev- 
erything, lie  begins  to  talk  a  little*  is 
very  sly*  mischievous*  and  has  more 
sprightliness  than  Sally.  I  must  say* 
he  is  handsomer*  but  not  so  good  tcm= 
pered.  fie  is  very  resolute*  and  requires 
a  good  governor  to  bring  him  to  terms. 


m 


BURR'S    JOURNAL     93 


Princeton,  Sept.  2, 1757. 

dear  husband,  Ittr.  Burr, 
is  preparing  a  funeral  dis- 
course in  memory  of  Hover* 
nor  Belcher  of  Elizabeth* 
town,  who  died  Jlugust  31. 
1  have  besought  him  to  spare  himself 
the  undertaking.  £o*day  he  has  been 
getting  the  sermon  ready,  and  to*mor> 
row  he  will  ride  forty  miles  to  deliver  it, 
on  the  4th  instant,  when  he  should  be 
lying  upon  a  sick  bed,  and  nursed  with 
the  greatest  care  at  home.  T  fear  the 
worst.  «  «  «  « 

September  5th.— Ittr.  Burr  has  re- 
turned, but,  alas,  his  fever  which  was 
at  first  of  an  intermitent  kind  has  set- 
tled into  one  affecting  the  brain,  and  he 
is  much  of  the  time  in  delirium.  1  have 
often  been  alarmed  to  think  God  might 
take  him  from  me.  T  hope  God  will  help 
me  with  Pis  hand,  should  this  awful 
dispensation  come  to  me.  fie  has  an 
infinite  right  to  Bis  own.  «  « 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


Princeton,  Oct.  7,  1757. 

V  loss,  shall  T  attempt  to  de- 
scribe it?  God  only  can 
know.  Ulhat  can  be  written 
to  set  forth  the  affliction 
of  a  poor  disconsolate  wid- 
ow and  two  fatherless  ones?  T  have 
lost  all  that  could  be  desired  in  a  crea- 
ture* T  have  lost  all  that  T  ever  set  my 
heart  on,  in  this  world.  Tn  his  eulogi- 
um,  Gov.  Civingston  said  :  "Cease  not 
to  weep  an  angel,  whom  you  loved  a 
man."  Oh,  T  am  afraid  1  shall  conduct 
myself  so  as  to  bring  dishonor  to  my 
God,  and  the  religion  1  profess,  no,  let 
me  rather  die,  this  moment.  1  am  over- 
come. Co  God  only  will  T  carry  my  com- 
plaint. T  will  speak  it  to  fiis  glory,  that 
I  think  fie  has  in  an  uncommon  degree 
discovered  fiimsclf  to  be  an  all-suffici- 
ent God,  a  full  fountain  of  good.  « 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


Ep 

ESJ 

I 

H 
38 


Princeton,  Dov.  2, 1757. 

Rflue  just  written  a  letter  to 
my  affectionate  and  honored 
father,  in  answer  to  one  full 
of  consolation,  sent  to  me  by 
him  after  Itlr.  Burr's  death. 
In  it  1  said,  and  this  T  wish  to  put  on 
record  as  a  part  of  my  journal : 

"One  evening,  in  talking  of  the  glo» 
rious  state  my  dear  departed  husband 
must  be  in,  my  soul  was  carried  out  in 
such  large  desires  after  that  glorious 
state,  that  T  was  forced  to  retire  from 
the  family  to  conceal  my  joy.  Ulhen 
alone,  T  was  so  transported,  and  my 
soul  carried  out  in  such  eager  desires 
after  perfection  and  the  full  enjoyment 
of  God,  and  to  serve  Rim  uninterrupted- 
ly, that  1  think  my  nature  would  not 
have  borne  much  more.  T  think,  that 
night  T  had  a  foretaste  of  Reaven.  Che 
frame  continued  in  some  good  degree, 
the  whole  night.  1  slept  but  little,  and 
when  T  did,  my  dreams  were  all  of 
heavenly  and  divine  things.  Frequent- 
ly, since,  T  have  felt  the  same  in  kind, 
though  not  in  degree.  T  beg  leave  to 


•^S 
oci 


96          ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


add  my  need  of  the  earnest  prayers  of 
my  dear  and  honored  parents,  and  all 
good  people  that  1  may  not  at  last  be  a 
castaway ;  but  that  God  would  con« 
stantly  grant  me  new  supplies  of  divine 
grace/'  «  «  «  «  «  c 

my  honored  father's  letter  was  so 
affectionate*  comforting  and  refreshing, 
that  T  shall  transcribe  it  in  my  journal : 

Stockbridge,  tlov.  20, 1757. 
Dear  Daughter : 

I  thank  you  for  your  most  comfort* 
able  letter;  but  more  especially  would  T 
thank  God,  that  Re  has  granted  you 
such  thoughts  to  write.  Row  good  and 
kind  is  your  Rca  vcnly  Father !  Row  do 
the  bowels  of  Ris  tender  love  and  com* 
passion  appear,  while  Re  is  correcting 
you  by  so  great  a  stroke  of  Ris  hand  ! 
Indeed,  Re  is  a  faithful  God  j  Re  will  re* 
member  Ris  covenant  forever ;  and  nev= 
er  will  fail  them  that  trust  in  Rim.  But 
don't  be  surprised,  as  though  some 
strange  thing  had  happened  to  you,  if 
after  this  light,  clouds  of  darkness 
should  return*  Perpetual  sunshine  is 
not  usual  in  this  world,  even  to  God's 


ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL     97 


true  saints.  But  1  hope,  if  (iod  should 
bide  fiis  face  in  some  respect,  even  this 
will  be  in  faithfulness  to  you,  to  purity 
you,  and  fit  you  for  yet  further  and  bet« 
ter  light.  «  «  «  « 

jHs  to  Lucy's  coming  home,  her 
mother  will  greatly  need  her,  especially 
if  we  remove  in  the  spring.  But  yet, 
whether  your  circumstances  don't  much 
more  loudly  call  for  her  continuance 
there,  must  be  left  with  you  and  her. 
She  must  judge  whether  she  can  come 
consistently  with  her  health  and  com- 
fort at  such  a  season  of  the  year.  If  she 
comes,  let  her  buy  me  a  staff,  and  after 
advice,  and  get  a  good  one  or  none. 
mr .  Cffelstein  has  promised  her  a  good 
horse  and  side-saddle,  and  his  son  to 
wait  on  her  to  Stockbridge;  and  T  sup- 
pose rtir.  Fonda  can  let  her  have  a  horse 
and  side-saddle  to  mr.  €ffelstein's. 

Cimmy  is  considerably  better, 
though  yet  very  weak.  Ule  all  unite  in 
love  to  you,  Cucy,  and  your  chilhren. 
Vour  mother  is  very  willing  to  leave 
Lucy's  coming  away  wholly  to  you  and 
her*  I  am,  your  most  tender  and  affec- 
tionate father, 

Jonathan  Edwards. 
Co  Itlrs.  Esther  Burr, 

at  Princeton,  new  Jersey. 


98 


ESTHER    BURR'S   JOURNAL 


~GJ 


* 


Princeton,  n.  3.  flpril,  175$. 


taken  this  brief  mem- 
orial of  mr.  Edwards*  "Itly 
most  tender  and  affectionate 
father  ;"  yest  and  alas,  my 
last  words  from  bis  pen, 
from  the  "Boston  Gazette"  of  the  10th 
instant:  "On  Wednesday,  the  twenty- 
second  of  march,  at  Nassau  Fiaii,  an 
eminent  servant  of  God,  the  reverend, 
pious,  mr.  Jonathan  Edwards,  Presi- 
dent  of  the  College  of  new  Jersey  ;  a 
gentleman  of  distinguished  abilities 
and  a  heavenly  temper  of  mind  ;  a  most 
rational,  generous,  catholic  and  ex- 
emplary Christian,  admired  by  all  who 
knew  him,  for  his  uncommon  candour, 
and  disinterested  benevolence  ;  a  pat- 
tern of  temperance,  meekness,  patience, 
charity  ;  always  steady,  calm  and  sc  = 
rene  ;  a  very  judicious  and  instructive 
preacher  ;  and  a  most  exellent  divine. 
jHnd  as  he  lived,  cheerfully  resigned  to 
the  will  of  fieaven,  so  he  died,  or  rath" 
er,  as  the  Scriptures  emphatically  ex- 
press  it,  with  respect  to  good  men,  he 
fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  without  the  least 
appearance  of  pain."  «  «  « 
1  wonder  if  this  tribute  to  my  honor- 


^STHER  BURR'S  JOURNAL 


•j 


ed  father's  memory  were  not  from  the 
pen  of  the  family's  kind  friend,  Rev. 
Chomas  Prince.  «  «  «  «  « 

But,  1  must  copy  this  letter,  too,  from 
my  dear  widowed  mother  to  poor  wid= 
owed  me ;  yes,  and  my  two  fatherless 
ones: 

Stockbridge,  Hpril  3,  175$. 
my  Dear  Child : 

fl  holy  and  a  good  God  has  covered 
us  with  a  dark  cloud.  O  that  we  may 
kiss  the  rod,  and  lay  our  hands  upon 
our  mouths  !  Che  Cord  has  done  it.  Be 
has  made  me  adore  Bis  goodness,  that 
we  have  had  him  so  long.  But,  my  God 
lives  and  Be  has  my  heart.  O  what  a 
legacy  my  husband  and  your  father  has 
left  us.  me  are  all  given  to  God,  and 
there  I  am,  and  love  to  be.  «  « 
Vour  ever  affectionate  mother, 

Sarah  Edwards. 


^a^g: 

PS 

XX 


X 


M 
1 

m 


£3&5ftQ&^^rarara«s&*i 

700        ESTHER    BURR'S    JOURNAL 


ote. 


ESTHER  EDWARDS  BURR  died  April  7,  1758,  about  eight 
months  after  her  husband,  President  Burr  of  Princeton, 
sixteen  days  after  her  father,  President  Edwards,  Pres- 
ident Burr's  successor,  and  about  six  months  before  her 
mother,  in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of  her  age,  leaving  to  the 
mercies  of  the  world,  two  orphan  children,  Sally  and  Aaron,  re- 
spectively four  and  two  years  of  age.  It  is  said  of  her  in  the 
Life  of  President  Edwards,  that  "  she  exceeded  most  of  her  sex 
in  the  beauty  of  her  person,  as  well  in  her  behaviour  anil 
conversation.  She  discovered  an  unalfected,  natural  freedom 
towards  persons  of  all  ranks  with  whom  she  conversed.  She 
had  a  lively,  sprightly  imagination,  a  quick  and  penetrating 
discernment,  and  a  good  judgment.  She  possessed  an  uncom- 
mon degree  of  wit  and  vivacity,  which  yet  was  consistent  with 
pleasantness  and  good  nature ;  and  she  knew  how  to  be  face- 
tious and  sportive,  without  trespassing  on  the  bounds  of  deco- 
rum, or  of  strict,  serious  religion.  In  short,  she  seemed 
formed  to  please,  and  especially  to  please  one  of  Mr.  Burr's 
taste  and  character,  in  whom  he  was  exceedingly  happy.  But, 
what  crowned  all  her  excellencies  and  was  her  chief  glory 
was  religion.  She  left  a  nnmber  of  manuscripts  and  it  was 
hoped  they  would  be  made  public :  but  they  are  now  lost." 


University  of  California  Library 
Lx>s  Angeles 


JUN 


01    ir-'          « 

Ufi 


• 


^SfOJIT 


fe       ^F-CAI 
^      £?  *     x- 

§ 


MAR  I  ^  1996 

DUEATE  RECEIVED 


£     i 

c^       => 


^ 
^?Aavi 


^jlOS-Al 


o  r      i 

g  g(o( 

^     S 

O        ii, 

^     %a3Ai 


a      <$ 

T        O 


fe 

-Tl  ^_)    r 

1  1^ 

I  %*P 

tym 


—   «j 
^  § 

c 
?     •5,x^- 

^nsojr 


^ro 


315 


^ 
>&Aav 


^ios-^ 


- 


